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With ineffective and redundant shark nets returning to 51 ocean beaches on the NSW coast on 1st September, conservation organisations - Humane Society International Australia and Australian Marine Conservation Society - are calling on the NSW Government to make retiring shark nets a priority.

In early August, the NSW Government announced they would shorten the shark net season by one month because of the toll on endangered turtles.

The government also made statements that they would include councils and local communities in the decision-making process regarding the continuation of shark nets on their beaches.

HSI Australia and AMCS are calling on the NSW Government to begin the consultation process on shark nets as soon as the council elections are over on 15th September.

Lauren Sandeman, marine biologist with HSI Australia notes “Local councils are losing patience on shark nets. They have told the Government repeatedly that their communities don’t want them. The Government must deliver a timebound plan for the consultation and decision-making process to get rid of them. 

“Shortening the meshing program is a positive step, but it’s only by one month so hardly a win for the marine animals that will die in the nets during the seven months from September to March. This period will still kill endangered marine turtles as well as the Critically Endangered grey nurse shark.

“The Government must move quickly to consult with councils and local beachside communities on net removal, before more marine wildlife is killed.

“Modern alternatives to shark nets are already in place at the beaches with shark nets. They have been operating effectively for several years and at scale. The shark nets are ineffective and redundant. The public has nothing to fear from their removal.

“There is nothing to gain from shark nets, only precious marine animals to lose.”

Dr Leonardo Guida, shark expert with AMCS, agrees adding “The NSW Government literally has solutions in their hands – technologies such as drone surveillance, personal shark deterrents, and their leading SharkSmart education program are improving safety without harming marine life. With these evidence-based solutions to beach safety, it couldn’t be more obvious how redundant shark nets are—it's time the NSW Government retires the nets and fully embraces these myriad solutions.”

Humane Society International (HSI) is the world's largest animal protection organisation and HSI Australia established its office in 1994.

Image. A scalloped hammerhead pup caught in the shark net at Palm Beach NSW. Credit: N. McLachlan HSI/AMCS

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