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... 

Sydney Harbour appears to have a lot of natural shoreline, but much of it has been altered, particularly by the construction of vertical walls.  Predictions about global warming indicate that this will get worse because rising sea levels and increased intensities and frequencies of storms will lead to further protection of shorelines.  The effects on natural intertidal animals and plants due to replacing natural shores with seawalls must be evaluated if we are ensure continued protection of marine animals and plants in urbanized estuaries.

SACF contributed funding to the Centre for Research on the Ecological Impacts of Coastal Cities (CREICC) at the University of Sydney, to find out  how artificial structures are impacting upon ecological communities found on intertidal platforms.