What are shark nets?

Shark nets are indiscriminate and deadly. Hundreds of marine animals die each year in the shark nets at 51 ocean beaches in Newcastle, Sydney and Wollongong including many endangered species.  In fact, 90 per cent of the animals caught in shark nets are not the target shark species. Most animals die. 

While acting as death traps for wildlife, shark nets are incapable of reducing the risk of shark bite.  Rather than barriers, they are 150 metre-long fishing nets installed 500 metres off ocean beaches from September to March and designed to entangle and kill sharks. 

In trapping all the marine animals in their path, they are in fact attracting sharks closer to shore. 

Recent research has shown that there is NO DIFFERENCE in the frequency of shark bites between netted and non-netted beaches. Sharks can easily swim around them and get to the shore. Tragic shark incidents happen at netted beaches. Shark nets provide nothing more than a false sense of security.  

 

What can be used to protect swimmers instead?

The New  South Wales government has invested significantly in non-lethal technologies that can actually reduce the risk of shark bite. Drones patrol beaches, target sharks are tagged, relocated and tracked, and listening stations are detecting and warning swimmers and surfers. One or more of these technologies are already in use at every single beach that has a net. There are also SMART drumlines at all of the netted beaches catching and relocating target sharks. Not only are share nets cruel and ineffective, they are also redundant.

 

How you can help

Please sign our action to send an email to Premier Chris Minns, Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty, Environment Minister Penny Sharpe and your local MP. 

Tell them you want all shark culling nets removed from NSW beaches. #NetsOutNow 

 


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