Could shark nets be used to protect swimmers on Eurobodalla's beaches?
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The question is set to be examined with the State Government promising to work with Illawarra and South Coast councils on shark management practices.
The government said there would be a focus on the future use of shark nets, including local decision-making on using or removing the nets.
"We have such beautiful beaches and coastal areas in the Illawarra and the South Coast, and the last thing we ever want to see is a tragedy we didn't prepare for," said Minister for the Illawarra and South Coast, Ryan Park.
"It's important our government looks at ways to keep swimmers and surfers safe in the water, while also considering measures to protect our beautiful marine life."
Local councils will have the opportunity from October to consult with the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development and the community on shark management at beaches along the coast.
The future use or removal of shark nets, along with other tools for managing shark interactions and safety on beaches, can be covered in the consultation.
This will ensure community expectations are met and the right balance is struck between ensuring beach goers are safe and protecting our local marine life.
There will also be engagement with Surf Life Saving NSW and Surfing NSW who are partners with the NSW Government in delivering the Shark Management Program for 2024-25 and into the future.
The Shark Management Program for the coming summer has been released, and includes a suite of new measures to be trialled, which will increase protections for marine life while shark nets remain in use.
They include:
- Removing shark nets one month earlier on March 31, 2025, to respond to increased turtle activity in April
- Increasing the frequency of net inspections by contractors during March from every third day to every second day
- SLS drone surveillance over nets during March to scout for turtles on the days contractors aren't inspecting, effectively providing daily net inspections
- Trials of lights on nets to deter turtles and prevent their entanglement during February and March.
Shark nets across NSW, including the five in operation in the Illawarra, are also fitted with acoustic warning devices, such as dolphin pingers and whale alarms, to deter and minimise the risks to those marine mammals.
During the 2023-24 season 400 drone pilots for Surf Life Saving NSW were trained, who flew more than 36,000 flights across nearly 10,000 hours. Through this use of drones 362 sharks were observed.
SMART drumlines, including the 75 in operation in the Illawarra and South Coast, have also been used as an effective tool to keep swimmers safe on the state's beaches, allowing 413 target sharks such as white, tiger and bull sharks, to be caught, tagged and released last year.
Once tagged, the state's 37 coastal tagged shark listening stations, including eight in the Illawarra and on the South Coast, can track these sharks near the beaches where the device is based - with this information available to anyone with the SharkSmart app, website or on X (Twitter).
Nearly 2000 target sharks have been tagged over the life of the program and are monitored by listening stations.
Shark mitigation measures for the Illawarra and the South Coast can be found here.
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