Humane World for Animals reiterates need for removing shark nets from Sydney beaches

Conservation organisation, Humane World for Animals, has reiterated the need for removing shark nets from Sydney beaches following today’s Daily Telegraph article revealing that the NSW Government has asked three councils to choose one beach that they would like to see net-free for this next season - Waverley, Northern Beaches and Central Coast.

The Daily Telegraph’s sensational headline “Minns buckles to green councils and will let them drop protective nets on our top beaches” and article prompted a response from Lawrence Chlebeck, Humane World for Animals, Marine Biologist who noted “All three councils (which include Liberal, Labor, Greens and Independent members) have long opposed the use of shark nets and we are hopeful they will respond requesting removal of the nets from all their beaches. This is because shark nets do not make swimmers safer - something the article fails to mention until the very end.”

 Many beach goers do not realise the nets are not complete barriers so they provide nothing more than a false sense of security. Once they know the facts, polls demonstrate ocean users prefer additional modern technology such as drones and not shark nets. 

Chlebeck advised “the nets are not just ineffective, they may actually put swimmers at greater risk by attracting sharks closer to beaches where struggle and die in the nets. They’ve created a perfect feeding opportunity.

“This progressive decision indicates the Minns government may finally be changing its stance on outdated shark nets, and heeding the science and community expectations by removing nets from these beaches. We encourage them to extend that decision to remove shark nets from all remaining beaches throughout the state as soon as possible.

“Shark nets indiscriminately kill all sorts of the marine life that makes our oceans incredible -dolphins, turtles, rays, and many smaller, non-target sharks are killed every season.”

 Not a single local council, of the eight that have had shark nets installed on beaches within their jurisdictions, requested their continued use. Waverley, the Northern Beaches and the Central Coast councils have made their position very clear for a number of years, so this decision should be well received.

 The decision is a step in the right direction showing the government has recognised that modern alternatives will make swimmers safer and protect threatened marine wildlife, and comes after years of alternative trials, community consultations and stakeholder deliberations.

Chlebeck added “we thank all the community groups, charities, scientists and Members of Parliament who took up the cause and helped us reach this point.

 “But this isn’t the end. As long as shark nets are in the water, killing marine wildlife and attracting sharks, our efforts to see them completely eradicated from every beach in favour of better, more modern alternatives will continue.”

Humane World for Animals - formerly called Humane Society International - addresses the most deeply entrenched forms of animal cruelty and suffering. As the leading voice in the animal protection space, they work to end the cruellest practices, care for animals in crisis and build a stronger animal protection movement. Driving toward the greatest global impact, they aim to achieve the vision behind their name: a more humane world.