‘Killing machines’: Grim reason behind Bondi Beach protest

Over a hundred swimmers joined in on the rally, which was held at the popular tourist hotspot.

More than 100 swimmers have protested the use of shark nets at Bondi Beach with an incredible act.

The event was organised by the Nets Out Now coalition to advocate against the use of shark nets, as they have been shown to trap marine life and can inadvertently attract passing sharks to the bay for an easy meal.

After making the 500 metre swim to the net, the campaigners formed a line across the length of the meshing.

Their demonstration aimed to highlight that the nets are ineffective at protecting beachgoers as they do not span the entire length of the beach.

Protesters at Bondi Beach formed a line across the length of the shark net in order to show that they don’t span the entire beach. Picture: Supplied

“If shark nets are for swimmers, we don’t want them,” said swimmer Sarah Hatherley, who participated in the rally.

In a clip posted to Instagram, she compared the nets, which are 150 meters long and six meters high, to “a mere volleyball net,” noting that there are many metres of water above and below, as well as hundreds of metres of open water on each side.

Given that Bondi Beach stretches approximately one kilometre, sharks can easily swim over, under, or around the nets.

The shark net is just 150 metres long and Bondi Beach is approximately one kilometre. Picture: Instagram/Sarah Hatherley

The protest was organised by the Nets Out Now coalition. Picture: Instagram/Sarah Hatherley

Another protester, who chose to remain anonymous, told news.com.au that she attended the protest because “it’s nearly the start of summer, and the nets are back, killing wildlife.”

New South Wales uses nets at 51 beaches between Newcastle and Wollongong as part of its 2024-25 Shark Management Program, removing them for portions of the year during whale migration season, from May to September.

“We’re the ones who swim at Bondi every day, and these nets give swimmers a false sense of reassurance,” she remarked.

Members of local swimming groups, including Swimmblers, Salties, Wombats, and Gropers, participated in today’s event.

Swimmers were protesting the use of shark nets as they have been shown to trap marine life instead of target sharks. Picture: Kate Richman Photography

In July this year, the Minns government said they were going to provide coastal councils with the choice to remove nets entirely if they can ensure the safety of swimmers and beachgoers.

Waverley Council, which encompasses Bondi and Bronte beaches, has long voiced its disapproval of shark nets.

Last year, Waverley Mayor Paula Masseslos called on the state government to look at alternative management strategies such as modern technology to help keep people safe.

The protest was made up of local residents and members of social swimming clubs. Picture: Kate Richman Photography

Angela Curry, another local resident who participated in the event, described the shark net as “basically a killing machine” that intrudes on the homes of marine animals, who “deserve safety in their own environments.”

She argued that trapping sharks is an outdated and barbaric idea, as sharks are essential to the health of the ocean ecosystem and, in turn, crucial for the “health of the planet.”

Ms Curry has taken part in multiple protest swims, which have ranged from just four participants to hundreds.

She expressed particular concern about the baited drum lines also set at Bondi.

Drumlines are deployed every morning and collected before sunset to catch target sharks (White, Tiger, and Bull sharks), but they often catch endangered marine life instead.

“It makes me incredibly nervous that it’ll attract bigger predators to the beach,” she said, though she acknowledged her love for the ocean “outweighs the risk”.

“The ocean is truly beautiful and life-changing for me,” she added, “and I’m so thankful I get to experience it daily. I fight for all that beauty to remain protected.”

Shark nets have been found to give beachgoers a false sense of security when swimming. Picture: Rohan Kelly.

A ruling in the case of Humane Society International (Australia) Inc v Department of Agriculture & Fisheries (Qld) AATA found “overwhelming” evidence that mesh nets and catch-and-kill drumlines used in these shark management programs do not impact safety, negatively affect marine ecosystems, and give beachgoers a false sense that they are being protected.

A Senate Inquiry in 2017 into ‘Shark Mitigation and Deterrent Measures’ also showed substantial evidence that shark nets and catch-and-kill drumlines do not provide positive safety outcomes, harm sea life, and also contribute to a false sense of security.

The inquiry recommended discontinuing these methods in favour of modern, non-lethal technologies, such as drones, however, both states have thus far refused to comply with this recommendation.