Shark-spotting drones triggered eight water evacuations across beaches during the NSW summer holidays, according to the state government.
The trial of drones - used as part of the government's strategies for reducing shark attacks on NSW beaches - spotted 26 potentially dangerous sharks at Ballina, Lennox Head, Evans Head in the north; Redhead beach near Newcastle; and Kiama beach on the South Coast.
Two swimmers also have the drone pilots to thank after being spotted in distress at Kiama in January, with the sighting prompting local authorities to monitor the situation until the pair were safely ashore.
NSW Minister for Primary Industries, Niall Blair said it highlights the multitude of benefits in using drone technology for coastal safety.
Along with the drones, helicopters swept over seven of NSW beaches during summer spotting 167 sharks close to beachgoers, with 25 of those being potentially dangerous sharks - meaning they were more than two metres long. Seventy-eight beach evacuations were triggered from these sightings.
"These eyes in the sky have really complemented our other measures under the $16m shark management strategy, which include our tagging program, net trial, SMART drumlines and VR4G listening stations," Mr Blair said.
The deployment of shark nets along the coast has been heavily criticised, with dozens of marine animals being killed.
Six manta rays, two turtles and a bottlenose dolphin were among 72 animals killed in the nets off Ballina in the second month of the controversial net trial, while just one targeted species - a great white shark - was captured.
SUMMER OF SHARK-SPOTTING IN NSW
* Drones and helicopter crews flew over waters at Ballina, Lennox Head, Evans Head, Redhead & Kiama
* Drone trial sighted 46 potentially dangerous sharks, triggered eight water evacuations
* Helicopter crews spotted 525 sharks, made 167 calls to beach authorities, triggered 78 water evacuations
* Drone pilots spotted two distressed swimmers at Kiama, monitored until safely ashore
* Pilots flew a total of 92,929km over holiday period.
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