Each September, the issue of shark nets is raised due to the deployment of the NSW Shark Meshing Programme (SMP). The nets are deployed between Wollongong and Newcastle at the beginning of spring in preparation of increasing beach goers. But the deployment of the nets also mean a great deal of marine 'collateral damage' as many untargeted and harmless animals get fatally caught in the nets each SMP season. To find out what people knew of the SMP, SACF has been running a survey over two summers. The responses have been a little surprising... 

Over 600 people have responded to our survey to date. Following are some of the responses:

1. Frequency of swimming at the beach:

Daily -  12.1%

Weekly -  28.3%

Fortnightly -  8.7%

Monthly - 17.3%

Less than monthly - 32.2%

Are there shark nets at the main beach you swim at?

Yes - 43.9%

No - 20.1%

Not sure - 35.7%

2. Do the nets span headland to headland?

Yes - 8.8%

No - 40.1%

Not sure - 41.7%

Are the nets deployed all year round?

Yes - 18.5%

No - 29.1%

Not sure - 43%

Have you ever swum at an un-netted beach?

Yes - 84.9%

No - 4.6%

Not sure - 9.8%

Is the presence of a net a deciding factor in your choice of swimming beach?

Yes -  12.4%

No - 72.2%

Not sure - 6.1%

Are nets necessary?

Yes - 25.4%

No - 57.1%

Not sure - 16.9%

From the survey, it was found that many people didn't know a great deal about the details of the SMP. However, despite this a majority of respondents had knowingly swum at un-netted beach and weren't deciding on swimming beaches based on the presence of shark nets. Interestingly, it was found that the more frequently people used the beach, the less in favour they were of shark nets. Those familiar with the environment, know that the risk of shark interaction is extremely low. Those who were in favour of shark nets often were so as a form of swimmer protection. However, often these respondents weren't aware that the nets were temporary, moved between beaches and did not span from headland to headland. In other words, the SMP in its current form is giving swimmers a false sense of security.

The question of shark nets was raised again in the summer of 08/09 predominantly due to their ineffectiveness. Of the 3 Sydney casualties from shark interactions, 2 occurred on netted beaches, in Avalon and Bondi. In fact, Bondi had two nets deployed at the time the surfer was bitten. The other interaction occurred in Woolloomooloo which is an unnetted area. Despite this, the State government  continues to declare the shark meshing programme to be successful due to the very small numbers of shark-human interactions. But growing awareness of the impacts of the shark nets is leading to the demand for alternative forms of swimmer protection, if needed at all.

Shark nets are used in NSW, Queensland and South Africa only as a form of swimmer 'protection'. The nets are used as a tool to catch and kill target sharks in order to stop them from interacting with humans. The NSW shark meshing progamme or SMP as it's also known as, is in effect for 6 months per year, from September to April. The nets are deployed on 49 beaches between Wollongong and Newcastle, and are deployed on a rotating basis whereby any one beach is netted between 9 and 13 days per calendar month. This means at any given time, a popular Sydney swimming beach may or may not be netted. In addtion, despite common perception, the nets do not span from headland to headland. In fact they are only 150m wide. Animals are able to swim around and above the nets. Up to 40% of sharks caught are on the beach side of the nets.  Despite this being the case there are minimal shark human interactions. In fact, many more people drown each year on Sydney's beaches. At a ministerial summit entitled 'Scientific meeting on current best practice in mitigating risks of shark attack in NSW (10 April 2006), public education on the shark meshing programme and increased beach safety awareness were listed as priority projects from both environmental management and human safety perspectives.

The target sharks for the SMP are: tiger, great white, and bull sharks. Due to declining numbers the Great White shark has been listed as vulnerable and is a protected species in NSW. This makes it a tricky situation. In one instance the great white is a target species, however it also requires protection. If a shark meshing contractor finds a great white in the nets, it poses a significant dilemma. Under 2m, and if alive, the sharks are to be freed from the nets and released.

The shark meshing programme has been nominated as a Key Threatening Process in NSW.

Many untargeted animals including dolphins, rays, turtles, dugongs, whales, and other shark species including the critically endangered Grey Nurse shark, are fatally caught in the nets. Hammerheads are particularly vulnerable to being caught in the nets.

SACF received an Envirofund grant to 'Build community awareness of shark nets and marine bycatch'. We wanted to find out what ocean users knew of shark nets and the heavy toll they take on marine life.

Click here to fill out our very brief survey.

To find out more about shark nets see:

Understanding current beach safety practices

Report into the NSW Shark Meshing Programme