Shark nets to be trialled on NSW north coast, premier says in policy turnaround

SHARK nets will be put up for the first time off the NSW north coast — with the announcement coming not long after yet another terrifying attack.

Surf crews track a large shark in the Ballina area.

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SHARK nets will be installed for the first time on the NSW north coast after the Baird ­government performed yet ­another major policy backflip to prevent more horrific maulings and fatal attacks.

Two shark attacks in two weeks off Ballina, plus a massive spike in maulings off NSW beaches stretching back more than 18 months, has forced Premier Mike Baird to end his long-running, stubborn resistance to more shark nets — a proven method of halting fatal attacks.

Jet skis patrol the area where shark attack victim Cooper Allen was attacked on Lighthouse Beach, Ballina, last month. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen/The Australian

Mr Baird, a keen surfer who was bumped by a 2.5m shark off Crescent Head in 2014, ­announced yesterday that a six-month trial of nets would begin on the north coast once the federal government approves exemptions from conservation laws protecting local marine life.

The new nets are likely to centre around Ballina and may be in place by summer.

“I understand how important this issue is and our first priority must be human life,” federal Environment Minister Josh Frydenberg said last night, indicating an approval would be given sooner rather than later.

SURFER SENECA RUS’ MAD SCRAMBLE TO ESCAPE ATTACK

Yesterday’s shark attack victim Seneca Rus (bottom left)

“I will seek to progress any proposal from NSW as soon as possible.”

Greens MPs, environmentalists and some Ballina locals remain vehemently opposed to nets on the north coast, saying they harm other marine life, including dolphins, which ­become caught up in them.

However, there has not been a single fatal attack at the 51 netted beaches stretching between Newcastle and the coast to Sydney and on to ­Wollongong in the 50 years since they were deployed.

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

Tadashi Nakahara's family reflect on their loss after the death of the Japanese surfer near Ballina last year.

Tadashi Nakahara (left) was 41 when he was killed by a shark off Ballina's popular Shelley Beach.

Netting NSW beaches costs about $1.4 million a year.

At least 222 dangerous sharks have been caught in NSW nets since 2008 — including 47 great whites, five bull sharks and 16 tiger sharks.

But nets kill other marine life, including small numbers of dolphins and whales.

“Ultimately we get to a point where we have to prioritise human life over everything,” Mr Baird told the NSW parliament yesterday.

He insisted sentiment on the north coast had shifted following the horror run of attacks — which started when Tadashi Nakahara was killed off Ballina’s Shelly Beach in February 2015.

There were 14 shark attacks off NSW beaches in 2015 — up from just three in 2014.

So far this year there have been at least seven attacks, including yesterday’s mauling of a 25-year-old man off Sharpes Beach, also at Ballina.

The state government issued a permit to kill the shark responsible.

Two weeks ago 17-year-old surfer Cooper Allen was attacked by a great white off Ballina’s Lighthouse Beach.

Cartoonist Warren Brown’s view.

Mr Baird’s change of heart is his latest policy backflip, having announced the reversal of the state’s greyhound racing ban on Tuesday and then foreshadowing a backdown on lockout laws by extending closing times for licensed ­venues and bottleshops.

Until now, the government had favoured trials of unproven shark deterrent technologies, including “smart” drumlines and failed “eco barriers”, which were scrapped off Ballina last month.

“People have had enough of the shark attacks and are now determined to trial nets. Local businesses have been suffering — especially in tourism — and as we approach summer, people want us to take action,” Mr Baird added.

Ballina mayor David Wright remains opposed to netting because of the damaging effect on other wildlife.

“We’ve got a school of 50 dolphins at Lighthouse Beach at the moment and I still think there are better measures to deter shark attacks,” he said.

Ballina Greens MP Tamara Smith also opposes netting.

Primary Industries Minister Niall Blair denied the new north coast netting was a policy backflip.

“We have said all along that all options are on the table, which is why we are seeking commonwealth approval for a trial of traditional mesh nets on the north coast.”