The Australian Shark Attack File listed a total of 33 incidents of shark-to-human interaction within the Australian waters in 2015 alone -- 23 were injured while two lives were lost.

The local governments in the country have ramped up their efforts amid a rising number of shark attacks and sightings. A new strategy involves the nouveau technology of using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) to spot these cold-blooded marine predators and save lives in the process.

The Use of New Technology to Aid Coastguards

The New South Wales government together with Westpac Bank launched the trial of a U.S.-built drone, which was dubbed as The Little Ripper, at Westpac Lifesaver Helicopter base at La Perouse on Feb. 28, 2016.

"This technology has the potential to improve the way our emergency services respond when people find themselves in trouble," New South Wales Premier Mike Baird said in a statement via Mashable.

The Little Ripper will be patrolling the skies above the coastlines of Newcastle, Hawkes Nest and Byron Bay in the northern portion of New South Wales. If the trials would prove to be successful, Baird hopes that "the future of rescue" could be made available for the different surf clubs in the entire state, per The Sydney Morning Herald.

About The Little Ripper

According to the news outlet, the use of these UAVs in search and rescue was the idea of Kevin Weldon, who is the founding president of the International Life Saving Federation. Back in 2009, Weldon, together with former Australian astronaut Paul Scully-Power, wanted to develop a drone that "has got to look like a helicopter, flies like a helicopter and save life like a helicopter."

The drone, which is a military-grade Vapor 55 drone, was developed to able to detect sharks using its high-tech camera. It could last for an hour of flight in one charge and is expected to be able to fight off the cross winds and maintain stability better than an ordinary drone.

The Drone Could Provide a More Practical Alternative to Helicopter Rescue

Mashable notes that The Little Ripper will be used to carry and deliver ULB Life Saving Pods, which could contain rescue items like floatation devices or inflatable life raft, EPIRB locator beacon, shark repellent and medical equipment.

"We'll be open to ideas once the trial has been completed," said Baird via the Sydney Morning Herald. "But I think every surf club in this state will see the potential in this new technology and will want to have access to it."