The New South Wales government will remove shark nets from 51 beaches between Newcastle and Wollongong next week. These shark nets are typically installed from September 1st to April 30th each year, aiming to create a barrier between swimmers and great white sharks, tiger sharks, and bull sharks during the warmer months. This measure is designed to enhance swimmer safety in these popular coastal areas.
Read Also...:
Top US officials shift blame for Signal chat leak to Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth
03-26, 2025
Trump says national security advisor doesn't need to apologise after journalist was added into group text discussing war plans
03-26, 2025
FBI launches task force targeting anti-Tesla 'domestic terrorism'
03-26, 2025
Papua New Guinea shuts down Facebook in test to stop 'pornography, misinformation, hate speech'
03-26, 2025In previous years, shark nets were removed on April 30th, but due to recent increased sea turtle activity, the government decided to trial an earlier removal on March 31st. Additionally, the government has increased the frequency of shark net inspections to daily checks and will trial the use of lights in 2024-25 to deter sea turtles and prevent them from becoming entangled. These initiatives reflect a growing concern for marine conservation.
Earlier this March, a shark attack occurred at Cunny Beach near Bonna Point in southern Sydney, resulting in a woman being injured and losing consciousness. She was rescued by passersby and urgently transported to the hospital. According to the Australian Shark Incident Database, there were a total of four shark attack incidents last year, located in New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, and Western Australia, respectively. In 2023, there were 17 shark attack incidents nationwide, including 3 fatal attacks, with 4 occurring in New South Wales. The recent attack has heightened public awareness of shark-related risks.
SharkSmart advises swimmers to swim between the red and yellow flags, stay close to the shore, avoid swimming at dawn, dusk, and night, and avoid entering the water with bleeding wounds. The 51 beaches covered by the state's shark management program are distributed across eight local government areas. Among them, Waverley, Central Coast, Northern Beaches, Sutherland Shire, Wollongong City Council, and Randwick councils have all passed motions supporting the removal of shark nets, citing concerns about their unintended impact on other marine life. These councils are prioritizing a balanced approach to beach safety and environmental protection.
According to data obtained by the Humane Society International from the New South Wales Department of Primary Industries in April, a total of 134 marine animals died in shark nets during the 2023-24 period. These animals included five critically endangered grey nurse sharks, four endangered leatherback turtles, and one endangered loggerhead turtle. The data shows that 93% of the marine life caught in shark nets were non-target animals, and only 36% were successfully released. This highlights the significant ecological impact of shark nets on marine biodiversity.
