NSW Government scientists condemn state’s shark nets

NSW Government scientists have stated they could find ‘no evidence’ that shark nets decrease fatalities. Lawrence Chlebeck, marine biologist with Humane World for Animals Australia (formerly Humane Society International Australia) who lead the campaign for the removal of shark nets in NSW notes “we need to remember that this issue is about the nets’ ineffectiveness as a public safety measure.

“We want the public to be safe when they enter the water, not to be misled by something that is nothing more than a placebo, and quite possibly worse. The shark nets in question are not barriers and do not keep people safe, all they do is give a false sense of security and kill marine animals. It is irresponsible for the government to continue their use.”

The Response to the Shark Meshing (Bather Protection) Program 2023/2024 Annual Performance Report, was released late on Friday by the NSW Government’s Threatened Species Scientific Committee (TSSC) with Humane World for Animals Australia emphasising “it should be the final nail in the coffin for the deployment of these outdated and ineffective devices.”

The 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.”

The report also found that in areas where shark nets are deployed, they “could not detect differences between netted and non-netted beaches in attacks”.

Humane World for Animals Australia hopes that such damning condemnation from the government’s own scientists will make the continued use of shark nets in NSW untenable.

Shark nets are currently deployed at 51 beaches from Newcastle to Wollongong and are set to be removed on Monday 31 March 2025 for the winter season.

The NSW Government is actively considering whether to return the nets in September as planned or to remove them permanently.

There has been no support for the continued use of the nets from the local councils where the nets are in use.

The debate over shark nets has been gathering steam in recent weeks following news of the local councils' lack of support, and of the signage informing the public that nets are being removed one month earlier than usual – ostensibly to protect turtles. 

Chlebeck added “when the government’s own scientists are strongly advising the government against shark nets, the Government must listen.

“The scientific committee’s advice is dismissive of the early removal of the shark nets as a sufficient measure to protect turtles. They describe the NSW Government’s killing of turtles in the nets as being ‘completely at odds’ with their obligations under the Recovery Plan for Marine Turtles. We know that ten turtles were caught in the first three months of the netting season - between September and December - and likely several more in January to March. The nets need to come out altogether to protect endangered turtles and grey nurse sharks,.

“Three of the turtles caught between September and December were leatherbacks and the death of just two of that species significantly increases the risk of local extinction. The grey nurse shark is another regular casualty in the nets at grave risk of extinction on the east coast. The government needs to understand that they are literally playing with these species’ survival in NSW waters.”

Humane World for Animals is also concerned that the early removal of shark nets is being misreported as a permanent removal of the nets.

“The removal of NSW shark nets on 31st March is not a permanent removal. The nets are a seasonal program, and they will go back in September as they always do unless the NSW Government makes the decision that the beachgoing public, coastal councils, and now even their own scientists, are telling them to make” Chlebeck said.

The modern alternatives to shark nets - drone surveillance, listening stations (that detect tagged sharks) and SMART drumlines - have proven to be much more effective at detecting sharks well in advance of them being caught in a net, and allowing time for public safety measures to be taken. 

“People want evidence-based policy, and the evidence continually shows that shark nets imperil threatened species. The evidence also shows that they do not keep people safe, but that modern technology will.”

In a broader stroke, the TSSC has further condemned the management of the program and its failings of NSW wildlife. 

The report says “The continued poor outcomes of the annual shark meshing program reflect a wider state government failing for biodiversity conservation in NSW” and one whose management measures are “lacking scientific rigour”, are “arbitrary in their effectiveness” and “increasing the risk of extinction”.

More information on Humane World for Animals Australia