New data highlights overwhelming failure of NSW’s shark nets  

The Humane World for Animals has flagged figures just released under Freedom of Information which show the overwhelming failure of NSW’s shark nets with almost 90% of the animals caught during the 2024/25 season being non-target species.

Of the 223 animals caught in this antiquated and deadly program, only 24 (or 11%) were targeted sharks (tiger, bull, white), with 199 (89%) being non-target bycatch, including dolphins, threatened leatherback turtles and critically endangered grey nurse sharks.

Tragically, 149 (67%) of all the animals caught died.

Lawrence Chlebeck, marine biologist with Humane World for Animals notes “‘Year after year we see this depressingly familiar figure: about 90% of the animals caught in the shark nets have nothing to do with the purpose of the nets. That’s not only an animal welfare tragedy, but it’s also a serious conservation concern.”

The 2024/25 catch data follows a damning criticism of the shark nets by the NSW Government’s own Threatened Species Scientific Committee. The committee’s March report states “The overall objective of the shark mesh program is to reduce human fatalities from key target sharks on beaches. At present there is no evidence that such actions do decrease fatalities.”

While referencing shark bite risk, the committee said it “could not detect differences between netted and non-netted beaches.”

The continuation of the shark netting program leaves many scientists, conservationists and beachgoers baffled.

Chlebeck adds “It’s hard to see how the Government can carry on with the shark nets when their own scientific advisors have shredded the program’s credibility. The TSSC report indicating no human safety benefit along with these new species catch figures must be the final nail in the coffin for the nets.

“Shark nets do not keep people safe. We have known this for a long time. This program is ineffective, woefully outdated and it indiscriminately kills marine wildlife, including threatened species.”

Chlebeck notes that there is every reason for the NSW Government to remove the nets permanently.

Shark nets are located off 51 NSW beaches at Newcastle, Sydney and Wollongong. They are 150 metres long, six metres high and are anchored in approximately 12 metres of water. Sharks swim over, under and around the nets with almost half (40%) of the sharks who are entangled, caught on the beach side of the net, indicating they were leaving the area when trapped.

Chlebeck concluded “new technology is already in place at our beaches - drone surveillance, shark listening stations which detect tagged sharks and non-lethal SMART drumlines - it’s not like we’re just advocating for the removal of nets.

“The alternatives have been in place for many years and have proven to be much better at detecting sharks and keeping people safe. It’s a no-brainer. Our message to the Government is accept the science that consistently shows that nets don’t work and listen to the community and beachgoers who don’t want them. The only thing that should die is the shark net program.”

Key facts:

2024/25 season

• 223 animals caught, 149 (67%) killed

• Only 24 target sharks were caught (four bull, two tiger, 18 white), 11% of total catch

• 89% of catch was non-target species

• Only four target sharks were caught in nets on Sydney beaches

• Four dolphins were killed (Wattamolla 22/10 and 28/11, MacMasters 18/10, Redhead 11/2)

• 13 turtles caught (seven green, three leatherback, two loggerhead, one olive ridley) , seven were killed. These are all threatened species.

• 11 grey nurse sharks caught, four were killed. The east coast grey nurse shark population is Critically Endangered.

By comparison:  Alternative measures (listening stations, drones, SMART drumlines) had the following results for the 2023/24 season (2024/25 figures yet to be released):

• Listening stations detected 473 target sharks

• Drones spotted 362 sharks

• SMART drumlines caught 413 target sharks who were relocated out to sea