Sydney's shark program under fire after dolphins, turtles and seal killed
The controversial program has been branded an 'abject failure' by critics.
Nets placed around Sydney’s beaches to catch sharks have done a terrific job catching over 200 marine creatures, but close to 90 per cent of them were not the species they were targeting.
Data released by the NSW Government on Tuesday revealed the majority of the catch were species listed as threatened or protected.
Dolphins, turtles, rays, and seals were among the non-target fish and animals caught. Sadly 16 critically endangered grey nurse sharks also became entangled in the government’s controversial nets, and two of them died.
Hidden toll of NSW shark net program
In February, a former shark net contractor told Yahoo News Australia he doesn’t think the government understands “how bad” the situation on the water is as they rely on statistics, not real-world experience to analyse the program’s impact on the marine environment.
In February, beachgoers at Sydney’s Bronte beach were horrified after a dolphin was found dead inside a shark net.
The 23-year-old quit the program, saying the death of a dolphin left him in tears. “I thought, holy s**t, I’m contributing to this culling,” he said.
While most Australians picture nets as surrounding entire beaches to keep them safe, they are actually just six metres high and 150 metres wide, so sharks are able to just swim over or around them.
Shark net catches by the numbers:
Of the 204 creatures caught during the 2022/2023 season, only 24 were target species.
18 white sharks.
6 tiger sharks.
6 Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins.
2 common dolphins.
2 fur seals.
58 rays.
14 endangered turtles.
Authorities set to reassess shark net use
While the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) concedes the nets are adversely impacting endangered species, the nets remain in the water.
Since the shark net program was rolled out in 1937 there has only been one fatality at a meshed beach. Before the NSW state election, Labor indicated it would support a reassessment of shark nets and the implementation of science-based technologies.
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The nets are taken down over winter, and DPI said on Wednesday no decisions had been made about their redeployment and a decision would be made by the government before the 2023/2024 swimming season.
"On average more than 5 million people visit those beaches every year. No beachgoers suffered any injuries due to shark interactions at any meshed beaches in the 2022/23 meshing season," iddedt a.
"The number of interactions with marine life fluctuate each year due to a range of factors, including natural variability in movement patterns of fauna and climatic and environmental conditions."
Joint letter slams shark nets as 'abject failure'
After the 2022-2023 statistics were released, Humane Society International (HSI) and Australian Marine Conservation Society (AMCS) issued a joint statement questioning why DPI doesn’t use alternate technologies like SMART drumlines in its program instead. These devices are used at some beaches and they alert contractors when animals are caught, resulting in fewer animal deaths.
AMCS shark expert Dr Leonardo Guida characterised the nets as an “abject failure” in public safety policy, arguing neither the public or science support their use.
HSI marine biologist Lawrence Chlebeck believes councils and coastal residents are “fed up” by their impact, and they show the “same tragic story” every year.
“Shark nets don’t discriminate. This season, 100 per cent of dolphins and 50 per cent of turtles caught in the nets were killed. How can we continue to justify a program so reckless with our precious marine life?,” he said.
Sea Shepherd Australia issued a separate statement, adding there is no evidence to justify their continued use.
"We can have safe beaches and not kill our local marine life. It's time for the NSW Government to rely on scientifically backed shark management measures that ensure public safety,” campaigner Lauren Sandeman said.
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