Time to untangle NSW from shark nets

On 1 September, shark nets seasonally return to waters in New South Wales, despite this 100-year-old technology giving only a false sense of security to ocean users. Though the nets have recently returned, the wheels of bureaucracy turn slowly, and the time to push for a change next season starts now.

Shark nets don’t work to keep swimmers and ocean users safer, but they are effective at killing marine animals.

There are much better ways to keep beaches safe without killing harmless marine life. Drone monitoring, SMART drumlines and personal shark deterrents are all preferred by scientists and the public.

Let’s make this the last season NSW beaches rely on outdated, ineffective and environmentally destructive nets.

Take action by sending a letter to The Hon. Dugald Saunders, NSW Minister for Agriculture asking him to end the use of shark nets.

The Hon.

Dugald

Saunders

Minister for Agriculture

The Hon. Dugald Saunders ,
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. 

Though the new shark meshing season has just begun, I am confident that this can be the last shark meshing season. 

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 7 of the 8 councils in which nets are currently used have also said they no longer want nets on their beaches. Waverley, Randwick, the Central Coast, Wollongong, the Northern Beaches, Lake Macquarie, 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 [email protected]
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