Drumlines, drones and aerial surveillance take place of shark nets at key beaches

SHARK nets will not be used to protect beachgoers on popular north coast beaches this summer, the government conceding they can’t guarantee people will be safe.

SHARK nets will not be used to protect beachgoers on popular north coast beaches this summer, with the government conceding they can’t guarantee people will be safe.

Instead swimmers will be protected by up to 35 SMART (Shark-Management-Alert-in-Real-Time) drumlines, drone and aerial surveillance at Seven Mile Beach at Lennox Head, Sharpes, Shelly and Lighthouse beaches at Ballina, as well as Main Beach at Evans Head.

Primary Industries Minister Niall Blair made the decision to not reinstate the nets — which are removed during winter for whale season — on the north coast after research found the majority of the community didn’t support them and they caught fewer targeted sharks than SMART drumlines.

Lifeguards inspect Lighthouse Beach at Ballina, which was closed after a 2016 shark attack. Picture: Glenn Hampson

The nets also trapped and killed much more marine life — such as turtles and dolphins — than SMART drumlines.

“We’re going off the numbers. The SMART drumlines have intercepted far many more target sharks than the nets.

You can never make the ocean 100 per cent safe. That is something that we acknowledge,” Mr Blair said.

The nets were due to be in the ocean for another trial this summer and Mr Blair said he would reinstate them if there was an increase in shark sightings — or a shark attack.

This 2.32m male white shark was caught at Lennox Head Beach on SMART drumlines.

Lennox Head surfer Clare Southwell expressed concern about shark activity at Seven Mile Beach last year. Picture: Natalie Grono

“We would need to have some evidence that we’re seeing either an increased number of sharks or that the community attitude has changed and that could be after an incident … but we obviously don’t want to get to something like that.

“We are comfortable at this stage by protecting the beaches with drones, SMART drumlines and the ariel surveillance.”

Surf clubs in the area will also get access to more drones.

STRETCH OF COAST A HAPPY HUNTING GROUND FOR GREAT WHITES

Lighthouse Beach will be one of those without shark nets but with other measures in place. Picture: Glenn Hampson

Popular surf breaks north of Lennox Head.

This 3m male great white shark was caught, tagged and released off Angels beach near Ballina.

Mr Blair also said beaches on the south coast were likely to have SMART drumlines installed in the future.

The net from Newcastle to Wollongong will not be removed.

Shark scientists are tracking 291 great white sharks, 38 tiger sharks and 61 bull sharks via the drumlines. The decision to scrap the nets was based on data that revealed SMART drumlines on the north coast snared eight times more “target sharks” than nets between November and May at five beaches.

The nets caught just two bull sharks, one of which died, among 145 animals.

Rays, turtles and dolphins were among “non-target” animals caught in the nets, with 57 animals dying.

In contrast, the drumlines trialled alongside the nets snared just 32 animals but caught 16 “target” sharks — ­including nine great white sharks and four tiger sharks.