Latest news with #sharknets
News.com.au
22-06-2025
- Politics
- News.com.au
‘Manipulative': Expert slams states on sluggish shark net stance
A Sydney shark expert has gone to town on the NSW and Queensland governments, accusing them of manipulating public perception in an effort to drum up support for shark nets and saying none of the available scientific evidence points to them being effective. Shark nets across NSW beaches are taken in annually from mid-autumn to mid-spring, however the NSW government is conducting a review to determine shark mitigation measures for the 2025-26 summer, including support from local councils on the continued use of shark nets. Speaking to NewsWire, The University of Sydney associate professor and shark behaviour expert Christopher Pepin-Neff said he believed two simple premises lay at the heart of the issue; firstly, that shark nets catch fish (Sutherland Shire council reported a 13 times differential between non-target animals caught in nets compared with the targeted eight species of sharks), and secondly, that in getting caught, those fish struggle and die and attract sharks. 'Shark nets attract sharks,' he said. 'There is no way that science exists everywhere in the ocean except on netted beaches in NSW or Queensland. 'That the vibrations that struggling fish make attract sharks everywhere in the ocean except when they get caught in a net at a netted beach in Australia. 'If science still applies, then we have to conclude that shark nets attract sharks to local beaches.' The decision to use shark nets is left to the state government, and during the 2024-25 season, 51 beaches between Newcastle and Wollongong used shark nets. Professor Pepin-Neff said his principal objection to shark nets was that 'they are used by politicians when it is convenient for them to protect themselves by providing a false sense of security to the public'. 'Politicians know that the public has an idea that shark nets work and they are manipulating that public perception for their own benefit,' he said. 'It's a disgrace that in 2025, politicians have not come clean about the fact that shark nets and a lot of beach safety measures are mythical. 'For me, this is not an environmental issue; it is an issue of integrity in the policy process and respect for local constituents across Australia.' The office of NSW Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty declined to respond to NewsWire's request for comment; however Professor Pepin-Neff, received a letter from the Department of Primary Industries (DPIE) saying 'in 2024/25 the DPIE consulted the 25 coastal councils about their preferences for shark mitigation at beaches within their local government area'. 'The NSW government is currently considering the feedback from the councils as well as the evidence from the technologies used over the 2024/25 summer period to help inform the upcoming season,' the DPIE continued. The Sutherland Shire in Sydney was one of the last councils in NSW to oppose the use of shark nets on its beaches. When the state government surveyed local councils in late 2024, councillors were presented with options and evidence for the various shark mitigation technologies. Sutherland Shire councillor Kal Glaznig voted against the use of shark nets and speaking to NewsWire said 'just based on the evidence that was presented it was pretty clear that they're not the most effective tools to keep people safe'. 'I feel like it's a big education piece for beachgoers. The thing around shark nets and why there's a bit of hesitancy to take them out is this perceived safety, which from what I saw scientifically, there's no argument for,' he said. 'People in our community aren't getting in the ocean or not getting in the ocean because they feel like they're being saved with nets.' Mr Glaznig said he couldn't speak for everyone, but during the council deliberation he didn't have a single constituent reaching out to say 'keep the nets in' but was instead inundated with community members who spent large amounts of time in the ocean saying they didn't believe the nets should be in. 'A lot of the evidence for me is around the fact that these nets have been here since 1937,' Mr Glaznig said. 'And I feel like if we just relied on existing measures for everything in life from nearly 100 years ago, we would be so backwards and behind. 'The ocean is such an unknown and you're never going to be able to control the elements, but you can definitely use better technologies and fuller solutions.' 
 'My take for the state government is for them to hopefully listen to what the councils who are on the ground with the community are saying because ultimately we are more accessible than state ministers in getting the response and the feel from the community. 'And our community in the Sutherland shire is telling us that they don't want shark nets and the experts that presented made it super clear that shark nets were not the most effective way to keep people safe.'
Yahoo
17-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Tourists oblivious to disturbing scene 500m off sunny Aussie beach
In waters off one of Australia's most popular beaches, something confronting was unfolding. Sunbathers, cafe patrons, and tourists in hotels that overlook the ocean would not have been able to see that 500 metres out, there was a dolphin in desperate need of help. It likely would have died without anyone knowing if a drone operator hadn't noticed something shining on the water and become curious. Their footage, supplied to Yahoo News, shows the dolphin trapped inside a two-metre-long net the state government had set and left to catch sharks off Caloundra on the Sunshine Coast. The net is one of 27 laid along Queensland's coast as part of a program designed to reassure tourists the beaches are being protected. Because the Shark Control Program (SCP) is controversial, the drone pilot who captured the vision has asked to remain anonymous, so we'll refer to them as 'Alex'. 'I was filming some surfers. Then I took the drone further out, and that's when I found the dolphin,' they said. 'At first, it made me feel anxious. As I got closer, I felt sick. My body felt really heavy.' Alex is speaking out of concern that the system isn't equipped to free beloved Aussie species like dolphins when they're drowning in the nets. Currently, shark nets are only checked for wildlife every 48 hours, although the new state government plans to update the rules to make it daily. When Alex called the SCP hotline to report their find on April 20, they were told it wasn't possible to send out contractors to investigate until the following day. It's likely the dolphin was already dead by that time. Earlier on that autumn day, the weather had been a warm 27 degrees, and there was a light breeze ruffling the sand. But by the late afternoon, when the call about the dolphin came through, the Queensland Department of Primary Industries (DPI) says it had concerns about sending its contractors out as conditions had become unfavourable. 'Contractors were unable to respond immediately due to workplace health and safety concerns over fading light, weather conditions and large swells,' it told Yahoo News. It said a boat was sent out at 'first light' the following day, but "unfortunately" they confirmed the animal was dead. A separate clip provided by an anonymous source shows the dolphin dead in the water before the contractors arrived. A swimmer is understood to have taken the footage close to the animal, despite there being a 20-metre exclusion zone around shark nets under the Queensland Fisheries Act. The 2025 dolphin entanglement is the first recorded at Caloundra since 2018, when a single animal was released alive. But analysis of the SCP shows dolphins are regularly killed by the program, with nine of the 12 caught in 2023 succumbing to nets or drumlines. That same year, two dugongs and five endangered turtles were also found dead in SCP devices. In May, Yahoo reported on a massive manta ray becoming entangled in nets off Noosa beach. Andre Borrell is the founder of Envoy Foundation and a critic of Queensland's use of shark nets. He argues the state government's need to operate under an exemption in its own Animal Care and Protection Act is a clear sign the SCP is 'cruel'. 'The whole core premise of this program is one of cruelty, and the only reason it can operate is because they've written themselves a loophole,' he said. 'Every death that happens is horrific, there's no good way that an animal dies in shark control equipment or at the hands of shark control contractors. We need to view everything about this program through that lens.' Confronting picture showcases state of Aussie wildlife on world stage Rare animal hiding in outback photo helps solve decades-long mystery 50-night search in Aussie forest uncovers worrying find Critics of shark nets say they are not effective in preventing attacks because they are just 186 metres long and 6 metres deep, so sharks can simply swim around them. While it's acknowledged there are fewer incidents at beaches with nets, critics say the lower numbers are reflective of them being set in areas already patrolled by lifeguards who are able to actively warn swimmers about sharks. NSW also has a shark netting program, and dolphins have been found dead in them on multiple occasions. But coastal councils around the state have indicated they no longer want them set off their beaches, and there will be pressure for the Minns Government to remove them when they are next reviewed. In Queensland, the Crisafulli government appears to be taking the opposite approach. In May it announced it would be expanding the SCP, with an $88 million investment aimed at supporting the state's $33 billion tourism industry. This will include an investment in technology and innovation, but also a possible expansion of netting to six new beaches. The minister for primary industries Tony Perrett said the program would be 'striking the right balance between ensuring swimmer safety and maintaining a healthy marine environment'. Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? 🐊🦘😳 Get our new newsletter showcasing the week's best stories.
Forbes
02-06-2025
- Health
- Forbes
Experts Question Queensland's New Shark Control Strategy
The Queensland government has identified potential locations for its expanded shark control program, ... More based on the presence of Surf Life Saving Queensland and data reflecting beach use. Queensland's Shark Control Program is about to undergo its most significant expansion in decades, with the state government pledging nearly $90 million to install new shark nets, increase the number of drumlines and broaden the reach of drone patrols along the coastline. The move comes amid growing public concern about unprovoked shark bites, especially during peak swimming seasons. 'Today's announcement is big and bold, it puts swimmer safety first,' Minister for Primary Industries Tony Perrett said. 'I have said time and time again, the best science must inform our actions when it comes to [the Department of Agriculture and] However, the plan has sparked immediate backlash from scientists, conservationists and environmental law experts, who say the expansion could do more harm than good to both marine life and public safety. Dr Daryl McPhee, an Associate Professor of Environmental Science at Bond University and one of the country's foremost experts on shark-human interactions, voiced skepticism about the effectiveness of the program during an interview on 4BC Breakfast: 'Regardless of how much the government spends and what it does, there are still likely to be unprovoked shark bites in Queensland waters. […] We have a lot of sharks and a lot of people going in the water.' Shark nets and drumlines have been used in Queensland since the 1960s, with the aim of the nets being to reduce the local population of large, potentially dangerous sharks (primarily tiger sharks and bull sharks) in areas popular with swimmers and surfers. Yet the effectiveness of these methods has been repeatedly questioned. While nets and drumlines may give beachgoers a sense of security, there is limited scientific evidence showing they reduce the overall risk of shark bites. In fact, many shark incidents in Australia have happened at netted beaches. And Sea Shepherd has warned that the planned upgrades could breach national environmental protections. 'Under Section 43B(3) of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, any enlargement or intensification of the Queensland Shark Control Program could be deemed illegal,' Sea Shepard Australia's Jonathan Clark said. This is because current methods like gill nets and baited drumlines often catch more than just the targeted sharks. Non-target species such as dolphins, turtles, rays and even endangered sharks frequently get entangled or killed by these devices. 'These lethal methods don't protect people … Minister Perrett is ignoring the science, legal risks, and public safety, while intensifying a program that should have been phased out years ago. We need to have the shark nets removed, the drumlines ultimately have to go, and we have to get into the modern ideas of using that technology such as drones, shark barriers, and really good public education.' The government is expanding the shark control program in a bid to protect swimmers and uphold ... More Queensland's reputation as a tourism destination. The state government has defended its investment, arguing that the expansion is about using 'every available tool' to keep the public safe. But critics argue that such measures divert attention and resources from alternative strategies that could be more effective and environmentally responsible. Modern drone patrols have been one of the more promising tools added in recent years. Drones allow lifeguards to scan for sharks in real time, alerting people on the beach or in the water if a large animal is detected. However, even drones have limitations. Cloudy skies, rough surf and limited battery life can all reduce their effectiveness. And like any surveillance technology, they rely heavily on well-trained operators and rapid response protocols. Education campaigns, personal shark deterrents like electric anklets and improved signage at high-risk beaches are also often pointed to as lower-impact ways to manage human-shark interactions. The tension between public safety and environmental conservation is not unique to Queensland, but the scale of the planned investment and the potential for legal conflict makes this a notable strike agaisnst shark conservation in the country. If Sea Shepherd goes ahead and sues the state for environmental breaches (which it says isn't out of the question), Queensland may find itself forced to scale back or alter its strategy to comply with national law. This situation is just the latest example of just how complex and contentious shark control has become in an era where both beach safety and biodiversity are high public priorities. In the end, the key question remains: will nearly $90 million worth of nets, drumlines and drones actually make Queensland's waters safer? Or are we spending millions on an illusion of control in a wild ocean we don't fully understand? While public demand for visible shark control measures is understandable, science suggests that no approach will fully eliminate risk. As Dr McPhee pointed out, 'We have a lot of sharks and a lot of people going in the water.' Perhaps the most realistic strategy moving forward is one that accepts some level of risk, prioritizes coexistence and focuses on reducing harm to people and the ocean as a whole.
