Dozens of residents gathered at Terrigal Beach on Sunday, August 27, to oppose the use of shark nets off Central Coast beaches in the wake of a NSW Government announcement that they would be reintroduced statewide this Summer.
Animal Justice Party (Central Coast) spokesperson Sarah Ryan said there needed to be an end to the “cruel and ineffective practice of shark netting”.
“With so many other viable alternatives available such as drones, helicopters and shark deterrents, we really need to push our local State Government MPs to look at the evidence from their own Government studies which clearly show that there are better options.
“It was heartwarming to see such a diverse range of passionate speakers and protesters out on the day.”
Speakers included Member for Terrigal Adam Crouch, who has been a strong political advocate for the removal of shark nets on the Central Coast for many years, respected conservationist, underwater photographer and Terrigal ocean swimmer Nada Pantle and environmental journalist Jackie Pearson of Community Environment Network.
Also speaking on the day was award-winning documentarian, conversationist and generational ocean swimmer Toni Houston.
With shark nets set to go back out in the water on September 1, the Animal Justice Party says it has no intention of backing down.
“The death and destruction caused by shark nets is just unacceptable,” Ryan said.
“The 2022-23 shark net report shows that 65 per cent of wildlife caught in shark nets off Coast beaches were threatened or protected species and, of these, 71 per cent were killed.”.
Ryan said 89 per cent of wildlife caught were non-target species and 66 per cent of these were killed.
She said research from the University of Wollongong showed that nets are ineffective at protecting beachgoers while indiscriminately killing countless marine animals.
“Labor is ignoring science in fear of making an actual Government decision,” she said.
“The continued use of these nets is even more unjustifiable when you consider the more effective alternatives already available and in use.
“Increased lifeguard patrols, drone and helicopter surveillance and personal shark deterrents are all methods that can keep beach-goers safe without the mass killing of marine animals.
“We are asking community members to write to their local State MPs and call on them to put a stop to this.
“It’s time to ban this archaic practice, start implementing viable alternatives, and move into the 21st century.”
Meanwhile, Member for Terrigal Adam Crouch led the charge when cross-party MPs joined together on August 22 in opposition to the reintroduction of the nets this Summer.
Crouch joined fellow MPs James Griffin, Michael Regan, Alex Greenwich, Judy Hannan, Emma Hurst, Cate Faehrmann, John Ruddick and Jeremy Buckingham to call on the Government to scrap shark nets altogether.
“Despite the clear data provided in DPI’s performance report, the Premier reaffirmed his support for introducing shark nets on NSW beaches citing lack of confidence in alternative technologies,” Crouch said.
“I’d say to the Premier – come up to the Central Coast and ask our locals about their confidence in shark nets that have a 0 per cent survival rate for dolphins.”
Crouch repeated his call for the Government to provide three more drumlines to Central Coast Council, which would allow for a trial removal of shark nets.
“I call on Minister Tara Moriarty to speak with Central Coast Council as a matter of urgency – you have the chance now to stop this from happening on the Central Coast,” he said.
Crouch was also critical of Central Coast Labor MPs, who were vocal supporters of the removal of shark nets while in Opposition.
“Conspicuous in their absence were the four Central Coast Labor MPs who prior to the election had called for the removal of shark nets and are now in Government supporting these walls of death being put into our waters,” he said.
Member for Gosford Liesl Tesch said the Government was committed to working with councils to assess options for alternative shark management strategies in the future, once adequate data has been gathered to ensure community safety.
“Unfortunately, a surfer was attacked this past weekend at Lighthouse Beach, Port Macquarie, a beach with SMART drumlines, where shark nets were not in place, so we need to be cautious in our approach,” she said.
“The NSW Government’s number one priority is keeping beachgoers safe and the removal of shark nets must balance this priority with evidence based actions.”
Terry Collins