In order to protect beachgoers from shark attacks, authorities in New South Wales, Australia, launched a large-scale drone patrol program on the 1st. According to data obtained by AFP on the 3rd, Sydney beaches recorded a total of 73 shark sightings in two days, resulting in the closure of multiple beaches.
Several shark attack incidents have recently occurred in Sydney and other areas of New South Wales. In September last year, a surfer was killed by a shark at a beach in northern Sydney. In January this year, a child was fatally bitten by a shark in Sydney Harbour, and in June, a woman was injured by a shark at the popular Coogee Beach.
This program only tracks bull sharks, tiger sharks, and great white sharks—species considered most likely to attack humans. Lifeguards indicated that since sharks move in the water, some sharks spotted by patrols may have been recorded more than once. On the 1st, a group of 13 sharks was reported swimming together at a beach in Narrabeen, southern Sydney.
On the 2nd, drones detected sharks three times at Dee Why Beach. On the morning of the 3rd, another sighting was reported, leading to the beach being closed for an hour before reopening, but it was subsequently closed again.