Family of Sydney shark attack victim Mercury Psillakis welcomes training of surfers as drone pilots
Mike Psillakis and Maria Psillakis helped launch the program to train surfers as drone pilots. (ABC News: Berge Breiland)
In short:
The family of shark attack victim Mercury Psillakis has welcomed a new initiative to train surfers to operate drones for beach surveillance.
Mike Psillakis says if there had been a "drone in the sky" on that fatal day his brother would still be alive.
What's next?
The training has started in Sydney's Northern Beaches and will later be rolled out to beaches in New South Wales's north and south.
The twin brother of shark attack victim, Mercury Psillakis, says he would still be alive if drones had been monitoring Long Reef Beach in Sydney's north on that fatal day in September last year.
Mike Psillakis, along with his brother's widow, Maria, joined authorities in announcing community-led surveillance that will see surfers from local clubs trained in operating the devices to ensure year-round protection.
By the end of winter, it is expected there will be 125 new drone pilots and an extra 60 drones, emblazoned with a message to Merc, in skies between Newcastle and Wollongong.
Surfers will be trained to operate drones as part of a shark surveillance program. (ABC News: Berge Breiland)
The renowned surfer died a day before Father's Day in 2025 from catastrophic injuries after he was mauled by a great white shark. He was 57 years old.
Mr Psillakis described what happened to his brother as "extraordinary", saying the family was appreciative of the moves to protect surfers.
"I believe on the sixth of September, if there was a drone in the sky that day, Mercury will still be with us,"he said.
"So that's a great step in the right direction, and it'll be an ongoing journey."
Mercury Psillakis (right) with his twin brother Mike. (Supplied)
Surveillance after patrol season ends
The initiative, an expansion of NSW's $30 million Shark Management Program, is in partnership with Surfing NSW and taps into its $650,000 funding package from the Minns government.
It also complements the work of Surf Life Saving NSW, but will fill in the gaps by operating beyond the end of patrol season, in recognition that clubs run events all-year round.
The training will also focus on helping pilots identify high-risk species, with protocols in place in the event of a shark sighting, which includes pausing events for a minimum of 30 minutes.
Surfing NSW is responsible for training the new drone pilots. (ABC News: Berge Breiland)
Ms Psillakis said it was an honour that so many people cared about her husband and wanted to uphold his legacy.
Adding that while it was upsetting that he wasn't present, he would be proud "that he's somewhat responsible for extra safety on our beaches".
"The release of these drones in Mercury's name is deeply, deeply meaningful to us and our family.
"We are truly grateful for the commitment shown here to innovation, to safety, to protecting those who share our coastline.
"These drones represent progress. They represent the lives that may be saved, families that may be spared this unimaginable loss."
Loading...'Shark nets don't work'
Minister for Agriculture and Regional NSW Tara Moriarty said the government had embraced the technology as it meant that beaches did not have to be closed all day, but could reopen when sharks had moved on.
But she acknowledged they had to keep looking forward as the technology was quickly evolving.
"We're looking at what we're going to continue to resource for next summer and the summers into the future," she said.
"We'll continue to work with the sector and the experts on the best use of technology to be able to spot sharks faster.
"The shark nets are here to stay for the moment."
The NSW government says it has embraced the new technology. (ABC News: Berge Breiland)
For Mr Psillakis however, the time for shark nets is over along with "old ways of thinking".
"My experience is that there were shark nets in place when he [Mercury] was taken. So in my experience, shark nets don't work," he said.
"Personally, I'd like to see AI drone technology because it's not just the contest surfers on the weekends, it's citizens that surf during the morning, before work and in the afternoons that I want protected," he said.
"I want a box launch from sunrise to sunset, totally automated, where you don't have to have a man pilot.
"I'd like to see the shark populations looked at as well, because that's something that's not really discussed."
Training started for surfers in the Northern Beaches on Saturday, with sessions expected to take place across southern beaches after that.
Two regional courses are also scheduled to take place.