Aerial shark patrols along the state’s coastline will be extended until the June long weekend, following unseasonably warm weather and an increase in shark sightings at popular beaches. 

This patrol season – which was brought forward to early November and will run until Monday 9 June – is the longest recorded in South Australia. 

It comes as Surf Life Saving SA rolls out trauma kits and shark sighting boards in regional communities as part of a state government shark mitigation package.

Volunteer surf lifesavers provided critical assistance at Port Noarlunga after an attack on Thursday, including a Jet Rescue Boat and drone response.  

Shark surveillance aircraft – operated by Platinum Aircraft Charter with crew trained by the SES – will continue to monitor beaches on weekends from North Haven to Rapid Bay, and on the south coast of the Fleurieu Peninsula between Waitpinga Beach, east of Victor Harbor, and the Murray Mouth.

The two-week extension of fixed wing shark patrols – which were due to end next weekend, on Sunday 25 May – will support community safety, with fine conditions forecast leading up the long weekend. 

It is the second extension this season amid sustained aquatic activity and shark sightings in populated areas, including at southern beaches.

More than 450 flights have been conducted and around 1,200 hours flown since November.

The additional aerial patrols follow risk assessments done in consultation with SAPOL, PIRSA and the SES.

The fixed wing aircraft is fitted with a siren to warn beachgoers when a shark is sighted and is marked with the words ‘SHARK PATROL’ in large lettering.

The aircraft siren has been activated more than 90 times this season, indicating that there were either people in the water or on the beach in the vicinity of the sighting.

The state government says it will continue to work with Surf Life Saving SA on implementing mitigation measures following a post-season review.

SES Chief of Staff Robert Charlton says over the past two seasons shark patrols have been extended in hours flown, so it stands to reason that there will be more sightings. 

“On occasions this can include multiple sightings involving the same shark, which may be spotted at different times by the aircraft as it undertakes its patrols.

There has been speculation that the algal bloom blighting south coast beaches for the last two months has been driving more sharks closer to shore.