Australia’s New South Wales government is testing out a newshark detection system at one of its most popular beaches. Called Clever Buoy, the system uses a combination of sonar and biometric technology to monitor the water for any potentially threatening sharks.

The system deploys a multi-beam sonar sensor down into the water beneath a buoy, and that sonar system detects any marine animals longer than two meters, analyzing its movement patterns to determine whether it is a shark. Speaking to ABC News, Clever Buoy co-founder Craig Anderson said the system operates “very much like facial recognition technology for marine life.”

Once the system detects a shark in a given area, which Anderson says it can do with 90 percent accuracy, it automatically sends an alert to nearby lifeguards via a mobile app so that they can clear the area until the shark leaves.

It’s currently being tested at Bondi Beach, which is also protected by air surveillance and shark nets. The popular destination hasn’t seen a shark attack since 2009, but officials are nevertheless eager to demonstrate that all means possible are being undertaken to protect swimmers. If it proves successful, Clever Buoy may be adopted to other beaches and tourist areas, with its maker, Shark Mitigation Systems, now shopping the system around on the market.

Sources: The Telegraph, ABC News