New technology that will send a message to lifesavers each time a shark swims around a popular NSW beach is on the horizon if the coalition wins the state election.

The state government has promised $100,000 to trial shark-detecting sonar technology, which will undergo rigorous testing at an aquarium before general use.

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“The expectation is, as the sonar comes out there is an understating they will pick up the sharks in the beaches and that will be texted back to lifesavers on the ground to take early action, early warning,” Premier Mike Baird said on Sunday.

NSW goes to the polls in March.

The sonar technology will initially undergo a trial at an aquarium, where it will need to be assessed how well the program differentiates between a shark and a dolphin or whale.

When it gets the all clear, it will be rolled out at popular beaches.

“It is not perfect at the moment,” Primary Industries Minister Katrina Hodgkinson said.

“There is nothing more perfect than what we are currently doing.

“As new products come out we do want to trial them to make sure that we have the safest beaches possible.” Similar technology is being tested in Western Australia, the location for a controversial shark culling program last year.

Mr Baird confirmed shark culling was not an option.

“It’s not something the NSW Government supports,” he said.

There have been two fatal shark attacks in NSW in the past 12 months.

Swimmer Christine Armstrong was attacked on the far south coast last April and Paul Wilcox was mauled at Byron Bay in September.