Shark Bunker

September’s fatal shark attack of local surfing legend Mercury Psillakis is a tragedy for the Psillakis family, Long Reef Boardriders, the broader surfing community, and the entire Northern Beaches. 

An incident this devastating has not occurred locally in generations, the shockwaves sure to reverberate for years to come. But what can we learn from this traumatic event and ensure safety is paramount for all beachgoers and marine animals?

Steve Harrison, creator of the Sydney Surf Daily morning surf report, a Queenscliff Boardriders life member, and surf contest director with over 30 years’ experience has a superb idea that deserves attention. 

“Every popular beach should be using the drone technology available with dedicated staff monitoring the lineups,” says Steve. “The Shark Bunker could be operational from 7am to 7pm, activating alarms as needed when a shark is sighted that could be a danger to human life, and connected to PA systems and warning alarms to ensure all beachgoers are aware of precisely what’s in the water and could put them at risk.”

It’s important to note, Mercury lost his life mere days after “protective” shark nets were put in for the season at Dee Why. These same nets are perennially at the forefront of debate and community furore as to their efficacy and impact on innocent marine animals caught in the nets, victims of horrific deaths that would otherwise be avoided. 

The community deserves better. Beachgeors deserve to be safe when enjoying the ocean. Parents deserve to feel at ease when watching their kids go for a paddle or compete at Nippers. And our marine animals deserve to be able to enjoy their natural environment without becoming entangled as well. 

Pushback will always come with the determined cries, who’s gonna pay for all this? “What better use of ratepayer and taxpayer funds could there be than making our Beaches safe,” says Steve. 

“Public safety is paramount in all manners of modern society. Why, when it comes to our national treasure, enjoying the ocean, should we skimp on deploying the best technology and means of ensuring public trust and utmost safety? While also being able to then remove nets that kill innocent marine life too?”

A future with dedicated staff monitoring the beaches, creating jobs, utilising drone technology to the fullest, this is an opportunity for the Northern Beaches to become a world leader in beachgoer safety for human life, and marine life safety for the creatures we share this precious resource with too. 

This issue will no doubt continue to be red hot and most likely only become more intense as summer approaches and more people descend on the Beaches, all keeping a concerned close eye on what might be swimming beneath them when they should be relishing the moment carefree.