Northern beaches: Call for shark net ban after dolphins, turtles drown
Environmentalists are pushing for shark nets off the northern beaches to be banned after dolphins, turtles and other endangered species were killed last summer.
Manly
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Shark nets off the northern beaches caught 63 seas creatures in the last swimming season including three white sharks and a tiger shark.
But the meshing also snared so-called “59 non-target” species including two common dolphins at Warriewood Beach.
They both died.
A sea turtle, found in the net of North Narrabeen, was also found dead.
Contractors were able to release alive, two sea turtles at Manly.
The figures are contained in the just released “Shark Meshing (Bather Protection) Program (SMP) 2019/20 Annual Performance Report”
As part of the SMP nets were placed by contractors off 51 beaches between Newcastle and Wollongong between September and April.
There were nets at 15 beaches between Palm Beach and Manly.
The NSW Department of Primary Industries said that the objective of the shark nets, which were introduced at popular beaches in 1937 was to “reduce the risk of shark interactions … at public bathing beaches” from target species — white, bull and tiger sharks.
On the northern beaches a total of 63 marine animals were caught up in the nets in the last meshing season, including 32 that were threatened or protected species.
As well as the dead dolphins, other species snared in the mesh included: 16 southern eagle rays; 15 smooth hammerhead sharks; four bronze whaler sharks, two shortfin mako sharks; two scalloped hammerhead sharks and; two critically endangered grey nurse sharks.
The report also said the net of Whale Beach was likely damaged by a whale in September.
There were also two incidences of suspected vandalism of nets with large sections of the mesh cut twice at North Steyne, in October.
The confirmation that endangered species had been killed in the nets sparked another push from environmentalists for the shark meshing program to be dropped.
Humane Society International (HSI) and the Australian Marine Conservation Society said 183 threatened and protected species, including seven dolphins and six turtles and 14 harmless grey nurse sharks were killed in the nets between Newcastle and Wollongong.
Marine biologist with HSI, Lawrence Chlebeck, said: “We need to call time on the shark nets.
“NSW DPI has made great progress in developing alternative tools to manage the risk of shark bite such as drone surveillance, personal shark deterrents, and education — all of which are much more effective at protecting ocean users than nets and without the heavy toll on marine wildlife.”
The Government also trialled a SMART drum line program on the northern beaches last summer to capture, tag and release target sharks offshore.
“Shark nets are a relic of the past having been introduced in the 1930s when little was known about shark behaviour and their importance in the ecosystem,” Mr Chlebeck said.
“The truth is shark nets don’t make swimmers safer and they take a terrible toll on marine life.”