Shark drumlines a success over summer

SMART (Shark Management Alert in Real Time) drumline devices caught sharks at beaches across Sydney, Newcastle and the south and north coast.

On the North Coast, 23 sharks were caught, including a 3.5-metre tiger shark at Lennox Head. Sixteen sharks were caught on the South Coast, and 14 on Sydney’s northern beaches.

Once a shark is caught, it is tagged and released back to sea approximately one-kilometre offshore. Experts then track the shark’s movements to alert authorities when it is nearby.

Minister for Agriculture Adam Marshall said the SMART drumlines help researchers learn more about shark movements and the effectiveness of this technology.

“The beauty of this technology is that it not only prevents shark encounters but also allows scientists to monitor the tagged sharks and learn more about their behaviour,” Mr Marshall said.

The Department of Primary Industries will now analyse the results of the trials before deciding on the next steps.

The SMART drumline trials are part of the NSW Government’s Shark Management Strategy.

Smart drumline trials

Sydney