Marine experts call for NSW DPI to remove shark nets across the state

Australia’s most famous beach could soon undergo a major change – and it is one that will likely divide beachgoers.

Bondi Beach could soon no longer have shark nets as marine life activists call for the immediate removal of all shark nets across NSW coastlines after the latest research found not a single target shark was caught across Sydney last season.

The NSW Department of Primary Industries found that of the 228 animals caught up in shark nets across the state, only 24 were target sharks with the remaining 204 animals being non-target species, including turtles, rays, dolphins and smaller sharks.

In the Sydney region, the shark nets did not catch any target bull, tiger and white sharks during the last swimming season of 2022/23.

A Hawksbill turtle was caught in a shark net in NSW. Picture: Sea Shepherd Australia

NSW’s Shark Meshing Program sees nets installed on beaches in a bid to protect swimmers from possible shark attacks.

However, the state government is being urged to reconsider its plans to install the shark nets from Newcastle to Wollongong for the coming season, which runs from September to April.

It comes after the DPI report found 63 per cent of all animals caught in the nets during the 2022-23 season died as a result of the entanglement.

Meanwhile, 16 critically endangered grey nurse sharks were caught, with two found dead and 14 released.

A Waverly Council spokeswoman said the council, which encompasses Bondi and Bronte beaches, resolved in August last year that it did not support shark meshing.

Waverley Council is pushing to remove shark nets permanently from Bondi Beach. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Monique Harmer

“The safety of our beach goers, swimmers and surfers is paramount, and we will work with the Department to introduce modern shark mitigation strategies that will also ensure the confidence of beach goers,” she said.

“These mitigations strategies need to be in place before nets are removed as there is more to the process than simply just removing the nets.”

Humane Society International Australia marine biologist Lawrence Chlebeck said there are better alternatives to the shark nets such as SMART drum lines, alert systems and drone surveillance that could be used.

“These figures tell the same tragic story every year when the NSW shark net data is revealed, and it’s why coastal councils and residents are fed up with the nets,” he said.

“Shark nets don’t discriminate. This season, 100 per cent of dolphins and 50 per cent of turtles caught in the nets were killed.”

Mr Chlebeck said the Minns government needed to urgently reconsider its plans ahead of the 2023-24 season.

“Previous governments have viewed this issue through an outdated lens, which is why they blindly relied on 100-year old technology, in the form of nets,” he said.

Humane Society International marine biologist Lawrence Chlebeck says there are other solutions to reducing the risk of sharks at popular swimming spots.

“Modern solutions are already working and in place after decades of development, so it’s time for the new Minns government to bring swimmer safety into the 21st century and consign the nets to history.”

Sea Shepherd’s threatened species campaigner Lauren Sandeman said the NSW government needed to get rid of shark nets once and for all.

“The science speaks for itself; shark nets are ineffective, outdated and need to go,” she said.

“Not only does this program have no evidence justifying its continuation, its only purpose is to kill and it’s killing our most vulnerable marine life.

“We can have safe beaches and not kill our local marine life.

“It’s time for the NSW government to rely on scientifically backed shark management measures that ensure public safety.

“These measures are already being widely used in NSW at beaches with and without these nets – technologies such as drone surveillance, listening stations with shark tagging, personal shark deterrents, and the SharkSmart education program.”

Devils Rays were found caught tangled in DPI shark nets. Picture: Sea Shepherd Australia

Waverley Council has two shark nets, one at Bondi and one at Bronte, which are 150 metres long, six metres high and sit at a depth of approximately 10 metres.

The council stated that these nets do not provide comprehensive coverage, given that Bondi is 1,000 metres long and Bronte is 220 metres long.

There are no nets at Tamarama Beach.

A spokesman for the NSW DPI said meshing program covers 51 beaches off Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong.

“On average more than 5 million people visit those beaches every year,” he said.

“No beachgoers suffered any injuries due to shark interactions at any meshed beaches in the 222/23 meshing season.”

The NSW government is expected to make a decision before the start of the 2023/24 swimming season and following the tender and council consultation processes.

“At this stage, no decisions have been made about the future deployment of shark mesh nets,” the spokesman said.

The DPI spokesman said there has been a steady increase in the number of animals released alive from about 27 per cent to 42 per cent since the program started in 2009.

“DPI will continue to monitor and refine all measures in the Agreement as and when required to both protect beachgoers and reduce bycatch,” he said.

“The number of interactions with marine life fluctuates each year due to a range of factors, including natural variability in movement patterns of fauna and climatic and environmental conditions.”

The NSW DPI also operates a number of shark mitigation initiatives along the NSW central and north coast, including shark listening stations, tagging, nets, drones and drum lines.

Originally published as Marine experts call for NSW DPI to remove shark nets across the state