TWO new shark listening stations will be installed on the Hunter’s coastline as part of a $16 million strategy to better detect and deter the ocean predators.
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The satellite-linked stations, to be installed at Hawks Nest and Redhead, are among 10 that will be set up along the NSW coast.
The devices work by registering a tagged shark which swims within approximately 500 metres of the station. An alert is sent to Twitter @NSWsharksmart and the NSW government’s shark smart app.
“When it comes to preventing shark attacks we need to give beachgoers better information, and the fact that listening stations provide real time information of shark’s movements means people can make informed decisions before getting in the water,” Primary industries and lands minister Niall Blair said.
Ten listening stations are already in place between Tweed and Forster.
The new stations will be in the water this summer. Their exact locations will be determined after consultations with local surf clubs.
To date, 29 sharks and 88 bull sharks have been tagged as part of a collaborative program between the NSW Department of Primary Industries and CSIRO program.
"Our devices will also pick up any sharks that have been tagged in other waters," Mr Blair said.
"We're also looking at other types of technology that don't rely solely on tags and use other things like sonar to try and identify those sharks."
Hundreds of great white sharks are tagged each year near Hawks Nest.
