Government announcement falls short on shark nets 

MEDIA RELEASE 
31 July 2024 

Today’s announcement by Minister for Agriculture, Tara Moriarty, to remove NSW shark nets one month earlier than usual and consult with local councils on permanent removal is a ‘positive step’ but not nearly enough and will still leave destructive nets in place for seven months. 

Humane Society International Australia and the Australian Marine Conservation Society say the community has nothing to fear from the removal of the shark nets because they simply don’t work.  

There is ample evidence that the modern shark mitigation technology—that is already in place at all of the netted beaches—is more effective at providing beach safety. 

“While we welcome the announcement to shorten the meshing season, we can’t ignore the fact that the nets will still be in place for six months,” said Lawrence Chlebeck, marine biologist with Humane Society International (HSI) Australia. 

“We strongly urge local councils and the Minns Government to work quickly on permanent removal of the ineffective shark nets. They know shark nets don’t stop shark bites, and they know nets are killing marine animals.”  

“This decision is a positive step, and was made following consistent pressure regarding turtle migration, but turtles are just one of the threatened marine animals that end up in the nets every year.”  

“Critically Endangered grey nurse sharks are dying in the nets in alarming numbers, hastening their extinction on the east coast. Six months is simply too long, and we stand by our call to have the nets removed completely and permanently,” he said. 

“More frequent net-checks and improved drone surveillance are also positive, but the government is beating around the bush. Lights on nets will do nothing to reduce turtle catch and may even increase the risk to birds like Manly’s little penguins.”  

Figures being released tomorrow by the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) will show that 255 marine animals were caught in the NSW Shark Meshing Program (SMP) during the 2023/24 season.  

Only 15 of them were the targeted species of great white, tiger, or bull shark. 

Furthermore, almost one quarter (24 per cent) of the marine animals caught in the SMP were classified as a threatened or protected species, including a migrating humpback whale that became entangled in a shark net off Catherine Hill Bay in September. 

“Every year we see the same story: a miniscule number of targeted sharks caught compared to an overwhelming number of other marine animals,” said Lawrence Chlebeck, a marine biologist with Humane Society International (HSI) Australia. 

“The collateral damage caused by these nets is unbelievable: for every targeted shark caught last season, 17 other marine animals become entangled in the nets. Many of them were dead when found or would have died soon after, and what’s most upsetting is knowing just how many of those animals were threatened and protected species,” he said.  

“When you start adding up the figures, year after year, it is horrifying to realise how many threatened animals are being taken out of the marine ecosystem by an ineffective government program, he said” 

The SMP is implemented along 51 beaches stretching from Newcastle to Wollongong including iconic Sydney beaches like Manly and Bondi. The meshing season runs from 1 September to 30 April.  

HSI Australia and the Australian Marine Conservation Society (AMCS) have long called for the nets to be removed permanently, citing the sheer inefficiency of the nets in capturing the targeted animals. 

“The use of shark nets are redundant when for nearly a decade, successive NSW Governments have been using modern, evidence-based solutions including drones, community education programs, and the tagging and tracking of sharks,” said Dr Leonardo Guida, a shark scientist with AMCS.  

“Successive NSW Governments have operated the world’s longest marine culling program for nearly 90 years and on 1 September, the Minns Government has the opportunity to retire the nets for good, and fully transition NSW beach safety to the modern era for the benefit of bathers and wildlife alike,” he said. 

The figures released this year bring the total number of marine animals caught in the nets since 2012 to 4,121. Of those, 2,396 died – most were non-targeted marine animals. 

“Since 2012, we’ve seen an average of more than 90 per cent of the marine animals caught being non-target species,” Chlebeck said.  

“Yet every year, the government blindly ignores the data and puts the nets back in. And every year, those nets kill more and more marine animals and drive threatened and protected species closer to local extinction.” 

“The proof is there: shark nets do not prevent shark attacks. There have been 35 bites at netted beaches. It is absolutely time the nets were removed permanently,” he said. 

Catch statistics for NSW 2023/24 

• 255 marine animals caught in NSW shark nets in 2023/24 

• 163 (64%) were killed 

• Only 15 targeted sharks (Great White, Tiger, Bull) were caught 

• 62 marine animals (24%) were threatened or protected under the EPBC Act  

• Those include 

• 29 turtles (Endangered) were caught, 16 killed 

• 14 grey nurse sharks (Critically Endangered), 6 killed 

• A migrating humpback whale was also entangled in the shark net off Catherine Hill Bay in September 2023 

Lawrence Chlebeck (0481774581) and Leonardo Guida are available for interview. 

ENDS 

Media contact 
Matthew Smeal  
M: 0434 483 493 
E: msmeal@hsi.org.au 

Humane Society International (HSI) is the world’s largest animal protection organisation and HSI Australia established our office in 1994. We work to create a humane and sustainable world for animals advocating across wildlife conservation and animal welfare policy areas.