Shark nets spark public safety vs. marine conservation debate

The use of shark nets at Australian beaches has sparked a debate about swimmer safety versus marine protection.

One Sydney surf club has sounded the alarm over public safety concerns as shark nets across the state are set to be removed one month earlier than usual.

Shark nets are used at 51 beaches across NSW from September until the end of April each year. This year the nets will be removed from March 31 to try to reduce the accidental capture of sea turtles migrating* throughout April.

South Maroubra Surf Lifesaving Club president Paul Fownes said he was concerned other shark protection measures, such as drones and SMART drumlines*, were not up to the task of protecting swimmers.

“If you take away the nets, you’re relying on three hooks with dead fish on them, and then there are also days here in Maroubra where there are no drones,” Mr Fownes said.

The news comes as the majority of NSW coastal councils with shark nets voted to have them permanently removed due to concerns that too many other sea creatures were getting caught in the nets.

Six of the eight coastal councils where nets are installed have voted for the nets to be permanently removed if the NSW Government allows them the choice.

The Daily Telegraph revealed in August last year that the NSW Government would consult with coastal councils on the future of the shark netting program. It is understood the Department of Primary Industries (DPI), which runs the shark deterrent* program, has now received feedback from 25 councils and will put together a report to present to cabinet later this year. The government will then decide whether to remove the nets entirely.

Waverley mayor William Nemesh said the NSW government would need to significantly increase the amount of additional shark deterrence technology such as SMART drumlines and drone surveillance*.

“I have been clear that the removal of the nets needs to be accompanied by enhanced shark mitigation* strategies to keep swimmers safe,” he said.

Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty said the decision to remove the nets one month early was based on expert advice, with data collected from more than 2200 tagged sharks helping to inform decisions around the future of the program

SHARK PROTECTION AROUND AUSTRALIA
Other than NSW, Queensland is the only other state to use shark nets in Australia. Queensland also uses drumlines, which are baited buoys that lure and catch sharks, and drones for monitoring sharks.

In Queensland, if a shark has been found caught in a net or drumline and is on a list of targeted species*, it will be killed by authorities.

Non-target species are freed, however, sometimes contractors don’t make it to the net or drumline in time and the animals sadly die.

In NSW, 305 SMART drumlines are used across the state. These send alerts to contractors each time a shark has been baited. Target species are tagged and released.

There are 37 tagged shark listening stations across NSW that notify residents in each Local Government Area (LGA) if a tagged shark has been detected in the area. There are also Surf Lifesaving NSW drone patrols at 50 beaches during the school holidays, with at least one drone in every coastal LGA.

SMART drumlines have recently been trialled in parts of Queensland.

Western Australia uses a combination of eco-barriers, which are swimming enclosures that keep sharks out, as well as drones and tagging and tracking sharks.

But the net debate continues, not least because 21 people have been killed in shark attacks off the WA coast since 2000. The most recent fatality* was on March 10, after which there were renewed calls for shark nets to be introduced.

South Australia introduced drone surveillance in 2024 after recording five significant shark attacks on people in 2023, including three fatalities. That figure means that in 2023, SA exceeded the national average of 2.8 fatalities per year over the past 10 years. Unfortunately the southern state’s latest fatality was on January 2 this year.

CONCERN FOR OTHER ANIMALS
Much of the concern around shark nets and drumlines has been the impact the methods have had on other animals.

According to data from the Australian Marine Conservation Society, over the past 24 years, not only have 13,167 sharks been killed through the netting program, but 413 whales and dolphins, 907 turtles and 1766 rays have also been caught.

A report from the NSW Department of Primary Industries shows that in the 2021/2022 netting season, while 40 target sharks were caught, so too were 335 non-target animals, including turtles, rays, dolphins and fish, according to an ABC News report.

NON-LETHAL SHARK PROTECTION
There are other technologies being used that don’t lead to the death of sharks or other marine animals, such as surveillance drones and the tagging and tracking of sharks. According to an ABC News report, multiple new methods are also being trialled. These include shark-repelling cables that emit low-frequency electronic signals and CleverBuoys, which send out sonar signals*.

Already available to purchase are shark-resistant wetsuits that can reduce the size and depth of a shark bite and repellent devices that can be attached to surfboards.

POLL

GLOSSARY

• migrating: when animals travel from one part of the world to another in search of food or warmer waters for breeding
• SMART drumlines: Shark-Management-Alert-In-Real-Time, an anchor, two buoys and a GPS linked to a bait on a hook. When the shark takes the bait and becomes hooked, an alert is sent to authorities and a contractor is sent out within 30 minutes to tag and release the shark
• deterrent: keep something away
• fatality: death
• drone surveillance: when a drone is used to monitor for sharks
• shark mitigation: controlling the risk of being attacked by sharks
• targeted species: sharks on a list considered to be posing the most risk to humans
• sonar signals: sound wave signals

EXTRA READING
Rare aquarium shark birth filmed
Brave surfer’s one-legged ride
Crazy moment shark bites boat

QUICK QUIZ
1. Which two Australian states use shark nets?
2. What are drumlines?
3. Why are NSW’s shark nets coming down one month early this year?
4. What are eco-barriers?
5. What other marine animals get caught in shark nets each year?

LISTEN TO THIS STORY

CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES
1. Shark mini debate
Work with a partner and take a side each to prepare a mini debate. One person is for the use of shark nets to protect swimmers, the other is against.

Construct three arguments each to support your viewpoint.

Present your arguments to each other and see if you can agree on who has the strongest arguments and would therefore win the mini debate.

Shark Nets should be used to help keep swimmers safe;

FOR

–

–

–

AGAINST

–

–

–

Time: allow 20 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Science, Personal and Social, Critical and Creative Thinking

2. Extension
Many ideas and resources are used to help patrol beaches and protect swimmers from sharks, as outlined in the Kids News article.

Can you think of a new idea or design a new contraption that will help keep sharks away but not hurt other marine life?

Write it draw your idea below.

Time: allow 10 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Science, Personal and Social, Critical and Creative Thinking

VCOP ACTIVITY
Creative vocabulary
Find a bland sentence from the article to up-level. Can you add more detail and description? Can you replace any ‘said’ words with more specific synonyms?

Have you outdone yourself and used some really great vocabulary throughout your writing? Firstly, well done. Secondly, let’s ensure everyone can understand it by adding a glossary of terms. Pick three of your wow words and create a glossary for each word to explain what it means.