Central Coast animal rights activists are unimpressed with the NSW Government’s Shark Management Plan for the 2024/25 beach season, with shark nets to once again be installed along the state’s beaches.
The plan’s major concession to “prioritising the safety of beachgoers while increasing protections for marine life” is to have the nets removed one month earlier than usual, on March 31, 2025.
The government says it will continue to engage with local councils on the future use of shark nets and the exploration of local decision making on the removal or use of nets.
But activists remain vocal about the ongoing risk the nets pose to non-target marine species.
Animal Justice Party Central Coast representative Sarah Ryan, who will stand as a candidate for the AJP at the September 14 Council election, said the party was “extremely disappointed” in the plan.
“We have spent months negotiating with the NSW Government, and failing this, we took the issue to the community,” she said.
“In just one weekend over 500 locals signed our letter to Premier Chris Minns, demanding that these killer shark nets not be re-released into Central Coast waters.
“The Government claims it will consult with councils on the future of shark nets.
“Central Coast Council has a duty to act responsibly for the sake of our animals and community; we will be watching closely.
“I will be running in the September 14 election for exactly this reason.
“It is my intention to end the use of shark nets on the Central Coast for good.”
Humane Society International Australia (HSI) says the decision to remove NSW shark nets one month earlier than usual and consult with local councils on permanent removal is a “positive step” but not nearly enough and will still leave destructive nets in place for six months.
The Humane Society and the Australian Marine Conservation Society say the community has nothing to fear from the removal of the shark nets because they simply don’t work.
There is ample evidence that the modern shark mitigation technology – that is already in place at all of the netted beaches—is more effective at providing beach safety, they say.
Minister for the Central Coast and Member for Wyong David Harris said the Government would engage with Central Coast Council over Summer on shark management, giving newly elected councillors the opportunity to consult with the community.
“The future use or removal of shark nets, along with other tools for managing shark interactions and safety on beaches, can be covered in the consultation,” he said.
But Shadow Minister for the Central Coast and Member for Terrigal Adam Crouch said Central Coast Council had already confirmed it would be willing to trial the removal of shark nets if it could get the necessary additional SMART drumlines at Killcare, Lakes and Ocean beaches – a request which had been ignored by the Government.
He said reintroduction of the nets this Summer contravened pre-election promises made by the region’s Labor MPs.
“Just as concerning has been the Agriculture Minister’s apparent failure to communicate this decision to councils – she has made no effort to visit our coastal community or seek the views of key stakeholders,” Crouch said.
As well as removing the nets a month early to respond to increased turtle activity in April, the Government will increase the frequency of net inspections, increase drone surveillance and trial lights on nets to deter turtles and prevent their entanglement during February and March.
“Shark nets across NSW are also fitted with acoustic warning devices, such as dolphin pingers and whale alarms, to deter and minimise the risks to those marine mammals,” a Government spokesperson said.
The $21.5M Shark Management Program for 2024/25 will see: a drone surveillance program using 50 drones, partnering with Surf Life Saving NSW; 37 tagged shark listening stations all year round along the NSW coast; 305 SMART (Shark-Management-Alert-in-Real-Time) drumlines across 19 LGAs all year; shark nets at 51 beaches across eight LGAs from September 1, 2024, to March 31, 2025; funding of $500,000 to Surfing NSW to provide mitigation support and services including trauma response kits, drones and training; and a SharkSmart community education program, including shark and social research.
“Over the 2023/24 season 400 drone pilots for Surf Life Saving NSW were trained, who flew more than 36,000 flights across nearly 10,000 hours,” the spokesperson said.
“Through this use of drones 362 sharks were observed.
“SMART drumlines have also been used as an effective tool to keep swimmers safe on NSW beaches, allowing over 413 target sharks such as white, tiger and bull sharks, to be caught, tagged and released last year.”
Once tagged, the state’s 37 coastal tagged shark listening stations can track sharks near the beaches where the device is based – with this information available to anyone with the SharkSmart app, website of on X (Twitter).
For more information visit www.sharksmart.nsw.gov.au
Terry Collins