29. DAF Shark Smart Program

DAF Shark Smart Trial Introduction

The DAF (Department of Agriculture and Fisheries) SharkSmart drone trial is part of the Queensland Government’s investment in trials of non-lethal alternative shark mitigation technology, to determine what may be suitable for Queensland coastal conditions.

The SharkSmart drone trial is operated by Surf Life Saving Queensland drone pilots. Pilots hold a Remote Pilot Licence (RePL) and follow Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) requirements. All flights are subject to weather conditions. Pilots follow a set flight plan for each beach, which allows drone footage from different flights to be compared on a like-for-like basis.

How the trial operates
The SharkSmart drone trial aims to:

• detect sharks that could pose a threat to swimmers
• warn swimmers of potentially dangerous sharks detected by drones in real time
• monitor and record species, size and behaviour of sharks spotted by drones
• test the capability of artificial intelligence software and advanced camera technologies to identify sharks in Queensland coastal conditions.
  

Benefits

• Drones provide a bird’s eye view of the ocean and what’s happening beneath the surface – compared to traditional monitoring by lifesavers. and lifeguards from beach towers or water craft.
• Drones are more cost effective than other beach aerial monitoring, such as helicopter flights.
• The impact on marine life is negligible.
• Real-time monitoring means lifesavers and lifeguards can respond rapidly if a shark or other marine risk is spotted.
• Drones improve overall beach safety through monitoring marine threats or assisting with rescues.
  

Limitations

• Drones cannot operate in poor weather (strong winds, rain or storms).
• Drones cannot be operated in restricted airspace—this impacts some beaches near airports.
• Drone monitoring requires highly skilled operators and is labour intensive.
• Drones are less effective in areas with murky waters, such as some North Queensland beaches.
  

Privacy

• The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries in partnership with SLSQ uses drones to collect aerial footage for research into the effectiveness of drones as a shark bite mitigation tool.
• Images of people may be captured incidentally by video during the trial. Cameras on drones are directed to monitor the ocean, not people on the beach or nearby residences. Video recording is switched off during drone take-off and landing on the beach.
• Sometimes video footage may be released publicly via the SharkSmart website or media for education and communication purposes. Any video footage or photographs released publicly will be carefully reviewed and individuals will be de-identified through blurring or cropping the footage.
• Video and images will only be used for these purposes and will not otherwise be used or disclosed unless authorised or required by law. Your personal information will be handled in accordance with the Information Privacy Act 2009. For more information or to make a privacy complaint, visit our privacy page or contact scp@daf.qld.gov.au.
  

UAV DAF Shift

General Procedures

To be read in conjunction with standard LGOM 00 – UAV operations as well as other relevant policies

1. Review DAF Local Operating Procedures to familiarise yourself with location specific details
2. Check the weather, NOTAMS, beach location
3. Complete Mission Plan with attached forms (JSA/ Pre-Op Brief/ 15m Acknowledgement) PLAN MISSION>TEMPLATES>CLONE MISSION> edit your mission date/pilot/etc.
4. Check equipment (sign into DJI account, drone, controller, batteries, iPad, signage etc.)
5. Complete Pre-Flight Checklist
6. Set up exclusion area on beach
7. If stated in DAF Local Operating Procedure, contact local Air Traffic Tower to notify them of the location and time you are flying the drone
8. Notify Surfcom prior to taking off for every flight. Notify Surfcom when grounded or if going on standby
9. Complete flight operations up to a final flight after midday (average 2 flights/hour from patrol set up if conditions are favourable, without interruptions for air traffic/weather).
10. Upload all video files onto Hard Drive, then format SD card
11. Complete all DAF logs + post-flight checks, add flights on Drone Logbook
12. Finalize your mission on Drone Logbook and associate your flights with the Mission
13. Store equipment. Make sure everything is charged and ready for next shift
14. Advise SurfCom and Air Traffic Tower you have completed operations

Transect Flights

1. Calibrate the compass/check the home point at your take off/landing position.
2. Fly the drone out to the back of the break, maintaining Visual Line Of Sight (up to approximately 500m from where you are standing on the beach). Transect flights are to include the Bathing/Flagged Area
3. Point the camera back in to shore at approximate 45-to-50-degree angle looking into the water
4. Commence filming (4K video) and patrol back and forth on a transect line at the back of the bay no faster than 8.4m/s (30km/hour)
5. When the battery goes down to 40% finish the transect and stop filming, and then bring the drone back in to the landing pad to change batteries
6. If you spot any marine creatures, pause the transect and drop down to 30m. Identify it (if possible). If it is considered a threatening species follow SLSQ procedures (inform the lifeguard/lifesavers and SurfCom via phone)
   • The Lifeguards/Patrol Captain will go through the processes to evacuate the water etc.
   • Follow until the battery needs to be changed. Complete the shark sightings log if you see a shark.
   • Try and find the shark on the next battery if possible, and communicate with the relevant authorities.

Inclement Weather

• If it is raining or the wind is above 20knots, DO NOT FLY
• If the weather does not look like it will improve for the rest of your shift, you can fill out the Transect Patrol log with the Inclement Weather section at the bottom.
• A minimum shift is three hours (4 hours on a Sunday/Public Holiday) and you can sign off and go home.
• If you have completed some flights before the weather became Inclement, fill out the Inclement Weather section on your last Transect form (from the last flight you flew.)
• Pack up and complete all duties and inform the Chief Remote Pilot or your Lifeguard Supervisor if you finish early
  

Recording Data
All flights are to be logged in the below Jot Forms. These are web based forms and can be completed on iPad, iPhone or a computer.

Links:
Sightings Log

Patrol Log

Use the BOM website , or the most reliable weather source for your area to obtain specific weather observations

Video Transfers

DAF requires every flight to be recorded. Once flights have been completed, you are required to copy the footage from the SD Card to the Hard Drive provided. Make a file on the Hard Drive for each day to transfer all MP4 and SRT files. SRT files contain important information for the researchers. Follow the naming convention below when transferring your files to Hard Drive

Naming Convention:

**Location DDMMYYYY **pilot’s initials

Eg. ALEX25102021RA

(fight at Alexandra Headland, on the 25th of

October 2021, by pilot Rob Adsett).

Identifying Sharks

The New South Wales Department of Primary Industries – Fisheries has produced a video to assist its Shark Smart program operators to help identify shark species.

Local Operating Procedures by Area

DAF Local Operating Procedure – Alma Bay
DAF Local Operating Procedure – Rainbow Beach
DAF Local Operating Procedure – Noosa
DAF Local Operating Procedure – Coolum
DAF Local Operating Procedure – Alexandra Headland
DAF Local Operating Procedure – Bribie Island
DAF Local Operating Procedure – North Stradbroke Island
DAF Local Operating Procedure – Southport
DAF Local Operating Procedure – Kurrawa
DAF Local Operating Procedure – Burleigh Heads