COASTAL shark watchers are calling on the NSW Government to fund a special radio shark frequency as observers report larger numbers of the ocean predators brought to shore in search of bait fish.
Last weekend NSW South Coast beach patrollers reported record sightings for this summer along a 400km strip of the beachfront from Ulludulla to Newcastle with similar anecdotal reports further south.
The director of shark spotting service Surfwatch Australia, Michael Brown, said the best way to protect swimmers was with a radio service where civil pilots could report the movements of schools of bait fish and the sharks that follow them.
''You can't see bait fish from the beach,'' Mr Brown said.
He said daily situation reports would arm beach lifesavers with the information they needed to increase patrols.
Mr Brown argues that the system would offer more protection for swimmers than shark nets and at a fraction of the cost.
''Shark nets only cover a tiny percentage of the beach and they're only killing other animals,'' he said.
''The current shark netting program is costing approximately $1.5 million a year and I think 10 per cent of that would protect every beach through this alternative program.
''At the moment, [the sharks] are everywhere.
''Within the next six weeks I think we're going to see one or two horrific injuries on NSW beaches.''
The general manager of Bendigo Bank Aerial Patrol, Harry Mitchell, which flies from Newcastle to Ulladulla, said there was no reason for alarm, even though aerial patrols spotted more than 20 sharks last Sunday off popular holiday destinations for Canberra residents including Jervis Bay, Shoalhaven, Shellharbour and Narrawallee.
He said more sharks would be seen until March and that this was seasonal.
''It happens every year but as the [seasonal] water temperatures warm up we're going to see it more,'' he said.
He said there was no reason for alarm and advised beachgoers to swim between the flags and be aware of sirens.
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