Member for Terrigal Adam Crouch has renewed calls for the NSW Government to commit to removing shark nets from Central Coast beaches, ahead of the release of the 2025/26 NSW Shark Management Program.
Crouch said the long-standing use of shark nets along the NSW coast, including popular beaches on the Central Coast, was outdated and ineffective, and that the time had come for a serious rethink of marine safety and conservation.
“With the release of the new Shark Management Program due shortly, it is time for the Minns Labor Government to take marine life seriously and commit to the removal of shark nets from the Central Coast,” he said.
“Shark nets are outdated technology from a bygone era, and have time and time again been proven to provide no safety benefit to beachgoers across the state.”
Crouch pointed to the rollout of modern non-lethal alternatives, including listening stations, SMART drumlines and drone surveillance, all part of an $85M program funded under the former Liberal-National Government.
“Thanks to that investment, we have the technology we need to reduce the risk to swimmers without the environmental cost,” he said.
Last year, figures revealed more than 130 non-target marine animals were killed in shark nets across NSW, including dolphins, turtles and rays.
Coast Community News has covered the issue extensively over the past eight years, reporting on both community concern and expert opinion regarding the unintended consequences of shark meshing.
Locally, marine advocates have long questioned the use of nets, with calls growing louder each Summer for their removal, particularly during whale migration season, when entanglements can occur.
Crouch criticised the Minns Labor Government and local Labor MPs for what he described as “continued silence” on the issue.
“We know that shark nets don’t work. We’ve got the technology to replace them – it’s time to step up and remove these outdated killer nets from our waters,” he said.
The 2025/26 Shark Management Program is expected to be released in the coming weeks.
