A hammerhead caught in a shark net at Sydney’s Palm Beach in 2019.Credit:SI/AMCS/N McLachlan.
Once tagged,the sharks can be detected by a network of 37 listening stations floating off beaches across the state.
With the drum line system in place,alongside 50 drone monitoring programs,the campaign to rid NSW beaches of the nets ahead of their reinstallation in September is already under way.
A Terrigal-based group called Friends of Kurrawyba this week launched a petition calling for the government to never reinstall shark nets after they’re removed at the end of April.
In 2022,Central Coast MPAdam Crouch unsuccessfully lobbied the state government for his electorate to become the first to trial the removal of shark nets.
Loading
Upon the installation of the nets last year,Premier Chris Minns said:“It is our ambition to work with councils to remove them in the years ahead. But that technology,particularly in relation to shark detection,needs to improve.”
When asked if the nets will be re-installed next season,a spokesperson for the DPI said “the NSW Government will continue to consult coastal councils and their communities to ensure that local preferences are balanced against effective,evidence-based shark mitigation for beachgoers.
“Any future changes to shark net regulation in NSW will need to be evidence-based and ensure that residents and visitors can continue to enjoy our beautiful beaches.”