Aussie state's controversial beach decision puts shark species at risk of extinction
A shark net program designed to protect beaches is instead killing species on the verge of extinction.
A controversial plan to protect popular beaches from sharks is putting a critically endangered species at risk of extinction on Australia’s east coast. Ocean experts have described the situation as “very distressing”.
Shark nets periodically catch endangered sea turtles and even dolphins, but the NSW government has an exemption to use them from the federal government. However, it’s their impact on grey nurse sharks that has conservationists particularly concerned.
Unlike tiger or bull sharks, grey nurse sharks generally don’t bite, and have never killed a human. Divers who swim alongside them refer to the species as “Labradors of the sea” because of their docile nature.
Alarmingly, analysis of Fisheries data from the 2023/24 season by Humane Society International (HSI) and Australian Marine Conservation Society found 14 grey nurse sharks were caught in the government’s shark nets off ocean beaches between Newcastle and Wollongong. Of these five drowned.
Related: Aussie fisherman brought to tears after shock catch in shark net
How many grey nurse sharks are left?
Estimates suggest only around 2,000 grey nurse sharks remain on Australia’s east coast. Although they could be as low as 1,500 or as high as 3,000. Close to 85 per cent of sharks killed in nets since 2012 were breeding-age females which are critical to the survival of the species.
HSI marine biologist Lawrence Chlebck told Yahoo News it’s hard to reconcile that the government has identified shark nets as a key threat to grey nurse sharks, and yet it still continues to use them.
“It’s telling us two different things at the same time. One, that a government program is risking the local extinction of this species. And two, they're allowing the program to continue,” he said. “So it's difficult to reconcile with that logic.”
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Will shark net decision be enough to save species from extinction?
Labor was elected after promising to review the NSW shark netting program, but it has so far resisted removing them.
Related: Calls for Labor minister Tara Moriarty to be replaced over 'juvenile' Instagram post
Last week Fisheries Minister Tara Moriarty announced the shark net program will be shortened by one month, but conservationists say the decision may not be enough to stop the extinction of grey nurse sharks. They have called for trials of shark net free beaches this summer.
Shark nets were rolled out in NSW in the 1930s, and Fisheries has argued the lack of deaths on beaches since then proves they are effective. Unlike Queensland which keeps its nets in the water throughout the year, in NSW they are removed during the winter months.
But critics say they are ineffective and should be replaced with modern technologies like drones. Figures released on Saturday show just 15 of the 255 marine animals caught in nets during the 2023/24 season were targeted species — great whites, tigers, and bull sharks.
Moriarty has been contacted for comment about whether she believes her government’s shark net program is pushing grey nurse sharks towards extinction.
Greens urge Labor Government to rethink shark nets
Greens MP Cate Faehrmann said it was “totally unacceptable” that six grey nurse sharks were killed by the government's shark nets, and that “every single death matters” if the species is going to survive.
“The Government says it is reducing the time that shark nets are in the water by one month because it cares about marine life. Well, this won’t stop a critically endangered and totally harmless shark from being caught and killed in the nets,” she said.
“If we’re to save the grey nurse shark from extinction we need to scrap shark nets altogether and deploy alternatives such as drones and other smart technologies.”
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