Great White Shark Attack: Family of Mercury Psillakis Demands Drone Surveillance Network

“As they say, lightning doesn't strike twice, until it does…”

It’s been a little over two months since the Sydney surfer Mercury Psillakis died in the sort of Great White attack that has become a grim feature of Australian beaches.

Mercury Psillakis, was fifty-seven, and the twin-brother of the noted shaper Mike Psillakis, a man whose high-performance surfboards have long been a staple of the area’s best surfers.

Police described the attack as “rare.”

However, it’s only rare if you have no sense of what has passed and what life in the ocean was like prior to the Great White becoming a protected species in 1999.

Unlike southern California, where the Great White appears to co-exist in harmony with surfers and swimmers, the relationship is anything but benign in Australian waters. This is evident in the north, east, south, and west regions.

What to do?

In a post on Facebook, Mike Psillakis and Mercury’s widow, Maria, have called for autonomous drone surveillance.

Mike Psillakis:

Question time

Since Mercury’s passing, my mind has been consumed with what ifs. You cannot avoid these thoughts when you’re dealing with someone close to you. 

This post is from my personal experience. Not anyone else’s. 

It’s pretty rare to see a shark while you’re surfing or swimming. That’s because you’re at water surface level. 

One month after my brother’s passing, I was surfing a certain beach when I saw a shark. Very similar to the 1st photo that I post here. It was around 50 metres from me, in the wave face as I was paddling back out after catching a wave. It looked around 2 metres long. 

I‘m not sure if it’s just coincidence that I saw a shark just one month after Mercury’s passing, or that there are more sharks. 

Based on what I have gone through and seeing a shark just a month after my brother’s passing, in my own experience and reality, tells me that there are more.

So while the debate whether there are more Whites, the use of net’s and drumlines are ongoing, we need to put in place systems in the interim period to keep ocean uses safe. 

The existing systems were in place when my brother was attacked. However, one important system was missing: drone surveillance. I truly believe that if drone surveillance systems had been operational on the 6th of September at Dee Why beach, my brother would have been the first person to get to the shore.

The Importance of Monitoring Great White Activity

-totally autonomous drone

-AI detection for 3 target shark species 

-instant automatic alarm trigger

-instant smart watch alter

-drone locking over shark to notify surfers where 

-drone green/red light alert 

This is one simple solution that could easily prevent this from happening again. 

As they say, lightning doesn’t strike twice, until it does

And from Mercury’s widow, Maria…

Yes, the technology for drones is already available. Drones should be positioned between Newcastle and Wollongong. (Great White) Shark risk mitigation is complex — the environment, animals, and humans all need consideration. We cannot eliminate risks, but we can minimize them. There is always room for improvement.

Safety should be a year-round consideration, not just during the summer. All Sydney beaches should have access to resources such as surveillance drones and automated alarms.

Ultimately, we must address the ongoing concerns surrounding the Great White.

We are not experts, but collaboration among experts, scientists, Surfing NSW, surf lifesavers, and those affected is crucial. Evidence-based solutions must be implemented without a political agenda.

Strategies need to be considered, questioned, and reviewed to ensure the community feels safe enjoying Australia’s beaches. We recognize the risks when entering unfamiliar territory, but until now, those risks felt relatively low.

Merc’s legacy reflects his dedication to keeping people safe in the water. If we can enhance safety in his name, something meaningful can emerge from the terrible darkness we are experiencing.

How you feel about the autonomous drone idea when it comes to getting a grip on the Great White crisis?

Better than nets, culling etc?