The NSW Government recently announced its record $21.4 million 2021-2022 Shark Management Program. This increased funding comes after an extensive consultation program and supports the expansion of effective, evidence-based shark management measures in 2021-2022, including rolling out SMART (Shark-Management-Alert-in-Real-Time) drumlines at Port Macquarie. Fifteen SMART drumlines will be deployed daily between North Shore and Lighthouse Beach beginning Wednesday 9 February 2022 (weather permitting). These units will be set every morning and retrieved every evening. This technology has been successfully trialled on the North Coast between Lennox Head and Evans Head since 2015, along with numerous other locations.
A map showing the location of the SMART drumlines can be viewed at: https://www.pmslsc.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Map.pdf
Frequently Asked Questions can be viewed at: https://www.pmslsc.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Questions.pdf
A video showing how SMART drumlines work can be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Og2RfYVBPoA
Port Macquarie will be the fifth region in 2021 to receive new SMART drumlines as part of the expansion of shark management measures in 2021-2022, along with Coffs Harbour, Forster-Tuncurry, Tweed Coast and Yamba.
A map of the NSW Shark Management Program measures that are proposed to be installed across the state can be viewed at: https://www.pmslsc.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Program.pdf
While there is no silver bullet when it comes to protecting beachgoers from sharks, the NSW Government is proud to be a global leader on increasing beach user safety whilst minimising impacts on sharks and other marine life. If you have any questions, please contact NSW Department of Primary Industries via nsw.sharkprogram@dpi.nsw.gov.au
