This summer could see the first winding back of the controversial shark net program on Sydney beaches since 1937, with Palm Beach a potential location for a net-free trial, but so far neither councils nor the state government want to own the decision.

The mesh nets are deployed by the NSW government on 51 beaches between Wollongong and Newcastle every summer, but do not provide a complete barrier for sharks and routinely catch and kill non-target species including dolphins, turtles and critically endangered grey nurse sharks.

There is emerging consensus that the mesh nets are outdated and destructive and should be ditched in favour of modern proven technology such as smart drumlines, shark listening stations and drone surveillance. Key coastal councils have consistently advocated for this, but the decision ultimately rests with the NSW government.

Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty last month wrote to Waverley Council, Northern Beaches Council and Central Coast Council asking them to nominate one beach to be net-free this summer as part of a trial.

For Waverley Council that would mean either Bondi Beach or Bronte, since Tamarama is already not covered by a shark net. Northern Beaches Council has 15 shark nets at beaches from Manly to Avalon, while Central Coast has 15 patrolled beaches, of which 11 have shark nets during the season.

In general, the councils have pushed back against nominating a beach, pointing out that the Department of Primary Industries has the relevant data on the capture of target and non-target species in the nets, the effectiveness of other shark mitigation measures, beach visitation and any other risk factors.

Some councillors believe that Moriarty asked local governments to nominate the beaches so that the political fallout if something went wrong would be directed to local government. A more charitable interpretation is that the government is trying to be consultative.

Central Coast Council was the last local government to finalise its position at a meeting on Tuesday night, after Waverley and Northern Beaches responded earlier this month.

Central Coast councillors voted unanimously to endorse a trial, but recommended that the Department of Primary Industries select the beach since it was responsible for the shark management program and had the relevant information.

The Central Coast voted to advocate for additional shark mitigation measures to replace nets, while the wording of the Waverley Council resolution makes its support for net removal conditional on the deployment of alternatives.

Waverley councillors also voted to “note that the proposed trial is a NSW government-led initiative” and that the department would have the best available data to make a decision.

Northern Beaches Council did not discuss the matter at a recent meeting, but Mayor Sue Heins has sent several letters to Moriarty restating council’s position supporting the removal of shark nets from all beaches to be replaced with “technology that maintains or improves swimmer safety”.

In a letter dated July 31, Heins said she appreciated the invitation to nominate a local beach for the trial, but the council did “not have the technical expertise to make such an assessment”.

However, in a letter dated August 13, Heins noted that Fisheries NSW data indicated that the nets at Palm Beach along with some other beaches, had captured no target sharks, yet killed high numbers of non-target species.

“lf this data forms the basis for Fisheries selecting this beach as a trial site, council would not object to your decision,” Heins said.

Moriarty wrote back the following day, saying the proposed trial related to a “discontinuation of nets only at a beach selected by the council” and would incur no direct costs to local government. Success would be measured by council’s feedback on the levels of community support for the continuation of the trial, Moriarty said.

The annual report of the shark management program for 2024-25 is expected to be released soon. The previous summer, 255 marine animals were caught in the nets, of which only 15 were target species (great white sharks, tiger sharks and bull sharks) and 65 were threatened or protected species.

The mesh nets are 150 metres long and six metres above the sea floor, so do not provide a complete barrier. They are different to the permanent rigid shark nets at many harbour beaches, which do not harm animals.

Supporters of nets point out there has not been a shark fatality at a netted beach since 1951. However, there is debate about whether that is because of the nets or the fact those same beaches are patrolled.

A spokesperson for Moriarty said the government spent $21.5 million a year on shark management and welcomed the engagement from councils.

Based on last year’s program, shark nets are due to return on September 1, so a decision is imminent.

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