The head of the region's volunteer shark-spotting patrol has hit out at a rival service that returned similar data after a $75,000 trial paid for by taxpayers and which partly overlapped with existing surveillance.
The Mercury was aboard a Bendigo Bank Aerial Patrol's fixed-wing aircraft about 12.30pm yesterday when it flew over a large pack of hammerhead sharks 400-1500m offshore north of Sussex Inlet.
The crew estimated the pack contained more than 100 sharks. As the patrol flew on, another eight sharks were spotted 500-800m out from Shoalhaven Heads Beach.
Given such sightings, aerial patrol general manager Harry Mitchell is questioning why the State Government has repeatedly denied his service financial assistance, and recently funded more "costly" helicopter surveillance to do the same job.
"I'm so frustrated," said Mr Mitchell, who runs the Albion Park-based service with about 50 volunteers, fundraising dollars and corporate sponsorship.
"The cost of fuel is going through the roof, the community is only able to provide what it can.
"Yet the Government continues to bypass (the aerial patrol) and spend money on helicopter trials that have shown the same as what I've shown you today."
The Government's $75,000 trial covered 202km of coast between Newcastle and Wollongong, partly overlapping with the aerial patrol's patch between Palm Beach on Sydney's North Shore and Mollymook on the South Coast.
The trial resulted in 221 shark sightings, including 210 hammerheads, over 15 days worth of weekends and public holidays from December 19 to January 10.
Yesterday NSW Primary Industries Minister Steve Whan said the Government would continue to review existing and new shark-spotting techniques.
A decision on the future of the trial service - conducted by Newcastle Helicopters Pty Ltd - hasn't been made yet.
"This information is being used to help determine whether there is a role for helicopters to play in assisting the NSW Government's shark meshing (bather protection) program as an effective means of swimmer protection," Mr Whan said.
The region's fixed-wing service has campaigned for state funding without success since 1995.
Helicopter proponents say they are preferable to fixed-wing aircraft because they can hover over a specific spot.
Despite this, the existing service recorded shark sightings on 59 per cent of its flights in January and February. There were sightings on 76 per cent of flights last year, and 85 per cent the year before.
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