The End has come for Lethal Shark Nets in NSW

Shark nets are indiscriminate, outdated and ineffective. They have been installed at New South Wales beaches since the 1930s, killing hundreds of marine animals every year for nearly a century. They do not provide protection, but instead a false sense of security.

A public survey and coastal councils throughout the state have told the Department of Primary Industries that the time has come to end the use of shark nets. The decision now rests with Minister Adam Marshall and his Department of Primary Industries. Let’s show him how strongly we support removing the nets and get him over the line with this important decision.

The Hon.

Adam

Marshall

Minister for Agriculture

The Hon. Adam Marshall ,
Minister for Agriculture

Dear Minister,
	
I write to encourage you and the NSW Government to end the use of lethal shark nets. They catch and kill hundreds of marine animals every year but provide nothing more than a false sense of security to the public. 

I have heard your Department has done a great job trialling new methods and technologies to manage the risk of shark bite such as drones, SMART drumlines, and personal shark deterrents. I would much rather these modern non-lethal measures be used for shark mitigation instead of the old net technology from the 1930s, which I know is not effective.

I was thrilled to learn that NSW residents have called for an end to the nets in a DPI survey, and that 5 of the 8 councils in which nets are currently used have also said they no longer want nets on their beaches. Waverley, Randwick, Wollongong, the Northern Beaches, and Newcastle have all requested that shark nets be removed in favour of these more effective, non-lethal shark bite risk reduction measures.

I thank the NSW Government for its investment and progress in developing non-lethal technologies in the Shark Management Strategy to mitigate the risk of shark bites. I look forward to the Government relying on the use of drone technology, personal shark deterrents, alert systems and education as the main tools to reduce risk of shark bite. 

There is no place for these nets anymore. The wildlife cost of the nets is too high and because they only offer a false sense of security they have no real  benefit to ocean users.

Improving the way shark bite risk is mitigated in NSW through the ending of the Shark Meshing Program, and implementation of modern and more effective technologies is better for our ocean, our marine wildlife, and public safety.

Thank you,

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Contact Us:

Phone:	(02) 9973-1728
Email:	a ction@sharkchampions.org.au
Mail:	Humane Society International PO BOX 439 Avalon, NSW 2107

*Likely effectiveness of netting or other capture programs as a shark hazard mitigation strategy in Western Australia (2012) – Associate Professor Daryl McPhee, Bond University

Image: HSI/AMCS/N McLachlan