Jacqui Scruby: Why Drones Make More Sense

Living on the Northern Beaches, we don’t just visit the ocean, it is part of the fabric of our lives. From a morning surf at North Narrabeen to sunset laps at Avalon, the sea shapes who we are. So, when something goes wrong in our waters, it hits deeply. In September, our community was rocked to its core.

We lost Mercury Psillakis, a much-loved surfer, father, husband, brother and friend, in a shark attack at Long Reef. In his final moments, Mercury showed incredible courage, warning others and helping them reach safety. His bravery saved lives.

The paddle-out that followed was one of the largest ever witnessed, a powerful tribute to who Mercury was and the impact he had. His death sharpened our focus on a responsibility we all share: keeping people safe in the water while protecting the marine environment that defines our region.

Shark nets don’t prevent shark attacks, drones do

For some time I have advocated for modernising shark mitigation and being honest about the limitations of shark nets.  A 150-metre strip of mesh on beaches that stretch for kilometres doesn’t make us safer, it creates a false sense of security. Nets don’t stop sharks from entering surf or swim zones. They can swim over, under or around them. NSW Department of Primary Industries data shows more than 90 percent of animals caught in nets are non-target species, including dolphins, turtles, rays, whales and endangered species, and their presence may even attract sharks as they decay.

The loss of Mercury isn’t a moment for politics, but it is a moment for listening. Families, surfers, surf lifesavers, nippers, boardrider clubs and those closest to Mercury want answers and improved surveillance. They deserve both.

Maria Psillakis, Mercury’s wife, joined Long Reef Boardriders and Surfing NSW at NSW Parliament in an event hosted by Wakehurst MP Michael Regan. Here, they briefed MPs on the drone surveillance programs already supporting regional boardrider clubs in other areas. Member for Manly James Griffin, facilitated a similar session through Parliamentary Friends of Surfing. Their message is simple: the model is working elsewhere, now bring it to metro NSW.

Expanding what works

Surf Life Saving NSW and Surfing NSW already operate proven drone programs across the state. What we
need now is expansion. On the Northern Beaches, SLS NSW drones currently operate only at Palm Beach, South Narrabeen and Dee Why, and only in school holidays. Yet statewide last year, the program ran at 50 beaches, with drones covering 160,000km of coastline, detecting 1,050 sharks. This triggered 850 management actions, including sirens, evacuations and directed warnings, quite possibly saving lives with technology that is almost invisible to the public.

Programs That Should Include the Northern Beaches

The day Mercury was attacked, boardriders, including children, were competing just up the beach.

In other NSW regions, Surfing NSW plays a major role in modern shark mitigation through the State Government’s Shark Mitigation Program. Sixteen boardrider clubs have been equipped with expert drones and specialist training, including Cronulla Girls and Avoca Boardriders. These state-of-the-art drones are placed directly into the hands of the people who spend the most time in the water, the boardriders themselves. But funding constraints mean only some clubs can be supported, leaving significant room for expansion, including on the Northern Beaches.

The SLS NSW model is dedicated to shark surveillance for the broader community. Both programs are critically important and both need to grow. Combined, they could create a layered, community-embedded safety network.

If our goal is preventing tragedy, real-time detection is what works.

I’ve spoken with local boardriders, SLSCs and nipper parents, and I’d love to hear from you. Scan the QR code to share your views and, if you support it, sign the petition calling for greater funding in Sydney Metro areas, especially the Northern Beaches. Coastal MPs are joining forces to push for action in the 2026 NSW Budget.

Jacqui Scruby MP  |  Member for Pittwater  | @jacquiscrubyindependent  |  jacquiscruby.com.au