New Australian "shark camera" could help save lives after recent spate of attacks 

An Australian company has developed a prototype camera that is able to detect a shark based on its shape and movement under water, a piece of technology which could potentially save lives.

The camera, which takes human-error out of patrolling for sharks that venture near popular beaches, could be rolled out this summer and stem the number of attacks seen on surfers and swimmers this year, according to the director of the Melbourne-based manufacturer.

Ryan Hamlet, lead director of Swarm UAV, said on Thursday that the prototype would prove a more cost effective and reliable means of checking for sharks than aircraft patrols, the current method.

"A person looking out of an aeroplane window is not always looking in all directions," Hamlet told News Corp on Thursday.

"And wherever you put technology, once you're free of human error, you're to going get a better result."

A champion junior surfer remains in an induced coma on Thursday after he was mauled by what was believed to be a three-metre bull shark on the northern New South Wales (NSW) coast on Tuesday night.

The savage attack was the 14th recorded on NSW beaches this year, and has sparked calls for the immediate implementation of "eco-barriers" nets which allow smaller marine life to pass through, while keeping larger predators out across the notorious stretch.

The latest technology works by distinguishing shark-like shapes and then, through the aid of an onboard computer, alerting the relevant authorities, such as on-duty coastguards and lifeguards.

Swarm UAV will partner a South Australian contractor to test its ground-breaking technology throughout the 2015-16 summer.

"What we need now is the ability to test our technology with existing shark patrollers," Hamlet said.

Hamlet said Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) were a way to circumvent the costly endeavor of keeping people safe on Australia's beaches, potentially providing the service for 50 to 80 percent less than the current system costs.

"Unmanned aircraft are the future for constant coverage," he said. Endit