A new shark detection technology named "Clever Buoy" will be trialled off the coast of Port Stephens, the NSW government has announced.

The collaboration with Australian company Shark Mitigation Systems will use sonar technology to detect the distinctive movement patterns made by sharks and transmit the information to local beach authorities.

Primary Industries Minister Niall Blair says the government will partner with the University of Technology Sydney on a research project that will position a Clever Buoy about 1km off the coast of Hawks Nest at Port Stephens.

The project will assess the buoy's capacity to detect white sharks in field conditions.

"The way Clever Buoys are integrated into the NSW Shark Management Strategy will depend in part on the nature of the beach and conditions in each locality," Mr Blair said in a statement on Sunday morning.

A series of underwater stereo video cameras will record for up to five hours a day over a four-week period and the images will be compared to the data received from the buoy.