The Psillakis family expressed gratitude, viewing the drone release in Mercury’s name as a meaningful tribute and a lasting safety legacy.

Drone shark sightings will be uploaded to the SharkSmart app to inform beachgoers in near real-time, supplementing Surf Life Saving NSW’s drone coverage that runs through late June at 14 beach sites.

Sightings detected by the drones will be shared on SharkSmart to alert beachgoers before entering the water.

Statements from the Psillakis family and Surfing NSW CEO emphasize creating a safety-focused legacy for Mercury, highlighting community collaboration and the goal of protecting boardriders and the public.

The rollout will place 60 drones with 60 unequipped boardrider clubs across NSW, with 125 trained volunteer pilots by the end of winter, starting on the Northern Beaches.

The program will enhance safety for surfers and beachgoers year-round, with a focus on protecting people outside patrolled hours and supporting clubs during events and training.

The program aims to ensure every club has a drone and trained pilots across 60 clubs, with training beginning on the Northern Beaches.

The minister for Agriculture frames beach safety as a top priority and describes the program as a lasting commitment to Mercury’s memory and to safety during the White Shark season and beyond.

Safety leadership during the White Shark season is positioned as part of ongoing community-led coastal surveillance.

Surfing NSW CEO notes the initiative leverages a network of 120 boardrider clubs and over 11,500 members, many under 18, to bolster coastal safety.

Drones will be named in honor of Mercury “Merc” Psillakis, a Northern Beaches surfer who died in a shark attack, serving as a memorial and safety reminder.

Each drone will carry Mercury Psillakis’s name as part of the memorial and safety-focused messaging.