The full annual shark net catch statistics, released at the weekend by the Department of Primary Industries (DPI), show continuation of the NSW Shark Meshing Program risks driving NSW's grey nurse sharks closer to extinction.
Last week's announcement by NSW Fisheries Minister Tara Moriarty to shorten the shark meshing program period by one month is welcomed but will still push the Critically Endangered grey nurse shark towards extinction, says Humane Society International (HSI) Australia and the Australian Marine Conservation Society (AMCS).
"Grey nurse sharks are Critically Endangered and tragically facing extinction on the east coast of Australia," said Lawrence Chlebeck, marine biologist with HSI Australia. The data released today shows 14 grey nurse sharks were caught off ocean beaches in Lake Macquarie, Central Coast, Northern Beaches, Eastern Suburbs, Sutherland, and Wollongong. All but three of these animals were caught between September and March.
"Distressingly, 84 per cent of the grey nurse sharks caught in the nets since 2012 were breeding-age female sharks," he said.
HSI has obtained images of large breeding females caught and killed in the nets through freedom of information.
"By law the Government is charged with protecting and recovering the species, but the Government's own program is knowingly removing significant numbers from the breeding female population, and it has to stop," he said.
The figures released on Saturday show that of the 255 marine animals caught in NSW shark nets during the 2023/24 season, only 15 were those targeted: great white, tiger, or bull sharks.
Sixty-five of the marine animals caught—nearly one-quarter—were threatened or Critically Endangered species and are protected under threatened species laws.
Other frequently caught species include turtles, rays, and dolphins.
Last week, Minister Moriarty indicated the Government will consult with local councils on the future of shark nets on their local beaches. "We are pleased the Government is willing to listen to local government views on the shark nets. Local councils have already spoken, and they overwhelmingly want the nets out. We ask the Government not to delay acting on their wishes," Chlebeck said.
"We understand that sharks, by their very nature, evoke fear. But we cannot allow that fear to drive public safety policy, and certainly not when it means hundreds of marine animals—many threatened and Critically Endangered like grey nurse sharks—will be killed. It is time to prioritise modern technology over fear-based strategies from the 1930s," he said.
"There should be trials of net-free beaches this summer. To save the grey nurse shark, which is Critically Endangered and poses no threat to humans, the Minns Government needs to stop procrastinating."
Dr Leonardo Guida, shark scientist with AMCS said, "The use of shark nets are redundant when for nearly a decade, successive NSW Governments have been using modern, evidence-based solutions including drones, community education programs, and the tagging and tracking of sharks."
"The NSW Government still has the opportunity to retire the nets for good, and fully transition NSW beach safety to the modern era for the benefit of bathers and wildlife alike," he said.
