The hidden cost of shark nets
Most people never see the wildlife caught in shark nets.
The programs are designed to target a small number of shark species, but most animals caught are non-target species. These include rays, turtles, dolphins, whales, seals, fish and other marine animals.
Many animals become entangled and die before the nets are checked. Some are threatened or protected species, including animals protected under state and federal conservation laws.
In Queensland, shark nets remain in the water during the annual humpback whale migration, where they can entangle and traumatise whales travelling along the coast.
The result is a beach safety program that causes significant harm to marine wildlife while failing to deliver the protection it was originally designed to provide.
Better ways to protect people
Protecting people and protecting wildlife are not mutually exclusive.
When shark nets were introduced, there were few alternatives available. Today, technology has transformed how we approach beach safety.
Modern measures such as drone surveillance, shark detection technology, real-time alert systems, education programs and personal deterrents can help reduce risk and give beachgoers more information about conditions in the water.
These approaches focus on helping people make informed decisions and reducing risk without the need to kill marine wildlife.
Beach safety has evolved. It’s time for shark management to evolve too.
Why shark net policies need to change
We know far more today about shark behaviour, marine ecosystems and effective risk reduction than we did when these programs began, and we have technologies that didn’t exist back then.
Continuing to use shark nets means relying on a method that hasn’t kept pace with the science.
We’re calling on the Queensland and NSW governments to remove shark nets and lethal drumlines, and invest in modern, evidence-based approaches that protect both people and marine animals.
