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Australia is using drones to spot sharks before they attack

“The reason the drone is so important is sometimes we can’t see over the waves,” a surfing representative said.

HIGH-TECH SHARK-SPOTTING DRONES are patrolling dozens of Australian beaches this summer to quickly identify underwater predators and deliver safety devices to swimmers and surfers faster than traditional lifesavers.

As hundreds of people lined up in early morning sun to take part in a recent ocean swimming race at Bilgola beach north of Sydney, they did so in the knowledge the ocean had been scanned to keep them safe.

“I think it is really awesome,” 20-year-old competitor Ali Smith told AFP. “It is cool to see technology and ocean swimming getting together, and hopefully more people will feel safer and get involved.”

Artificial intelligence is built using thousands of images captured by a drone camera to develop an algorithm that can identify different ocean objects.

The software can differentiate between sea creatures, like sharks which it can recognise with more than 90% accuracy, compared to about 16% with the naked eye.

“We can identify 16 different objects, like sharks, whales, dolphins, surfers, different kinds of boats and many other objects of interest,” software designer Nabin Sharma from the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) told AFP.

“We are spotting sharks and we can alert swimmers and surfers in real time, so we can get them back to the beach,” he added. “In short, we are trying to make beach recreation more safe.”

Surf lifesaving clubs are Australian institutions dotted along the country’s coastline – where the majority of the population live.

They ordinarily rely on the naked eye to spot sharks, and launch surfboards or rubber dinghies from shore to rescue anyone in trouble.

The drone is a welcomed technical intervention that can also drop safety devices to distressed swimmers, just moments after they have been identified.

“The reason the drone is so important is sometimes we can’t see over the waves, so having the drone is that little piece of extra prevention for us,” Bilgola Surf Lifesaving Club president Romilly Madew said.

It gives us that line of sight that we can’t see – both for the surfers, and really for our patrols.

Spotting other hazards, like jellyfish or strong currents, via the drone gives swimmers greater confidence in the sea, she added.

Some beaches in Australia have shark nets, but a government report this week called for their phasing out in favour of exploring a range of alternatives, including sonar technology and aerial patrols.

The inquiry found that nets did not guarantee public safety any more than any other deterrents but caused significant damage to marine life.

There have been several shark attacks off the nation’s vast coastline this year.

Experts say incidents are increasing as water sports become more popular and baitfish move closer to shore, but fatalities remain rare with just 47 in the past 50 years.

UTS are also adapting the emerging technology to spot crocodiles for a programme in northern Australia.

- © AFP, 2017

Read: ‘It was going to eat her’: Father saves daughter from shark attack

Read: 55-year-old Australian diver ‘lucky to be alive’ after being mauled by giant bull shark

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    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Pat Mustard
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    May 22nd 2017, 8:48 AM

    Why would you climb Everest 6 times?

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    Mute Alan O'Rourke
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    May 22nd 2017, 9:23 AM

    @Pat Mustard: to ride Mrs O’Reilly!

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    Mute Tír Eoghain Gael
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    May 22nd 2017, 9:53 AM

    @Pat Mustard:

    If your passion was mountaineering, then why wouldn’t you?

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    Mute Jason Ebbs
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    May 22nd 2017, 11:03 AM

    @Pat Mustard: “because it’s there”

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    Mute Chef Harold
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    May 22nd 2017, 8:04 AM

    RIP

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    Mute Tweeter
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    May 22nd 2017, 7:59 AM

    Just watched the movie ‘Everest’ last night – that’s a coincidence.

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    Mute Richie C
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    May 22nd 2017, 10:26 AM

    @Tweeter: No, it isn’t.

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    Mute Fearghal
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    May 22nd 2017, 10:48 AM

    @Tweeter: Watched it a few years ago meself.

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    Mute Sean
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    May 22nd 2017, 8:27 PM

    @Fearghal: that’s another coincidence right there.

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    Mute Quentin Moriarty
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    May 22nd 2017, 4:05 PM

    Sherpas get pittance to get the western climbers to the summit and all the while risking their lives to do it out of financial necessity
    Without the guides the mountain would be littered with bodies
    Rather a selfish act to try and climb the mountain especially if one has family given the huge risks

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