Nets Out Now
Animal Liberation is proud to be part of the Nets Out Now Coalition.
Humans have been taught to fear sharks and because of this fear, many of us support and find comfort in the Government's shark cull programs and lethal management programs - but should we really? Let's dive into the facts and create a world where we can live in peace with other species.
When did shark nets start being used and where are they still used?
In 1937, shark nets were first deployed in NSW, to cull sharks and "protect" beachgoers. In 1962, Queensland followed.
Shark nets are still used along 51 beaches in NSW covering approximately 200km of coastline, and 87 beaches in QLD.
How do shark nets work?
A 'shark net' is a submerged mesh net (50-60cm grid), that is 6m deep and stretches 150m long (New South Wales) and 183m long (Queensland). Their purpose is to act as a barrier and reduce the number of sharks that come to the shore by entangling and killing them.
Image SMH
How do drumlines work?
Along some beaches, a 'drumline' is used instead. A drumline is a baited shark fishing-hook, that hangs from a bouy, and attracts and catch sharks. Once hooked, the shark or other non-target animal dies a slow death.
QLD Government Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
Can sharks get through shark nets?
Yes. Sharks can swim over, under, or around shark nets. The nets are set up 500m from the shoreline, where water depths average 12m - meaning there are gaps above and below the nets. They are also used to "protect" beaches that are kilometres long, leaving a large portion of the beach un-netted.
The use of shark nets creates a false sense of security for beachgoers.
“They [shark nets] do not prevent sharks from entering or leaving the beach; they operate by entangling sharks that swim into them by chance.”
Why are shark nets bad?
Shark nets work by entangling sea animals that swim into them - this means not only sharks are impacted. Turtles, dolphins, whales, fish, dugongs, stingrays, endangered and threatened shark species, and even sea birds can become trapped in the nets and die. The animals who become entangled sadly drown or suffer from severe and lethal injuries.
Some argue that when an animal becomes trapped, it draws sharks into the area.
Shark nets are considered such a threat to species conservation that they were included as a key threat in the NSW Fisheries Management Act 1994.
Image left: Nets Out Now Coalition. Image right: Action for Dolphins Australia
Do we need to be scared of sharks?
Globally, shark bites are fairly uncommon despite the large number of people participating in aquatic recreation each year. In fact, fatal and non-fatal shark encounters appear to be decreasing. Globally in 2020, there were 57 unprovoked shark encounters and 29 provoked (people attempting to touch, feed sharks) - most of which occur in the United States.
Humans are not part of a shark's natural diet - they would much rather consume a sea animal than a person. Sharks are curious creatures and can mistakenly bite people who are splashing around or surfers because they think they are a seal or other sea animal. In these instances, they typically leave the person after they bite them and realise they are not a seal. In other instances, they may feel threatened and bite people to protect themselves.
Do shark nets and drumlines work?
A study in 2019 by the University of Wollongong concluded that "there is no reliable evidence that lethal shark hazard management strategies are effective". They argue that the reduction in encounters and fatalities should be attributed to the improvement in lifeguard beach patrols and emergency and medical response.
A 2012 study conducted in NSW, found that approximately 40% of trapped sharks were on the beachside of the net - meaning they were trapped when they tried to leave the beach - highlighting the nets ineffectiveness.
“Science, facts, statistics, activists, conservationists, local government and much of the general public say nets and drumlines don’t work and want them gone...”
About the Nets Out Now Coalition
The Nets Out Now Coalition is made up for various non-profit organisations and marine experts, who have joined together to improve protection for both marine life and beach-goers within Australian waters, as well as positioning Australia as a global leader on shark mitigation, leading to improvements in human safety, tourism, conservation and reputation
Our Stance
It is the position of the members of the Nets Out Now Coalition that:
shark culling via the use of shark nets and lethal drumlines is an ineffective method for promoting public safety, providing only a false sense of security to beachgoers
these methods are extremely detrimental to the health and ecological viability of our marine life and ecosystems, affecting both ‘target’ and ‘non-target’ species
we directly oppose the continuation of outdated, lethal measures of shark control and beach safety programs that are not supported by scientific evidence, namely shark nets and lethal drumlines, and support the immediate transition away from these methods
we support and advocate for the use of scientifically supported, evidence-based approaches using modern and non-lethal alternatives in these programs, in conjunction with community education and support for lifesavers and first responders, and request the rapid implementation of these measures.
How do we live in harmony with sharks?
Lethal programs designed to kill target sharks are not only ineffective at improving beach safety, they are also cruel to sharks and other sea animals. It is our position that lethal drumlines and shark nets should be replaced with non-lethal mitigation methods as a matter of urgency.
Image: @Juansharks/Juan Oliphant/AFP/Getty Images
Want to learn more?
Watch Envoy: Shark Cull, a feature-length documentary which follows some of the biggest names in ocean conservation, such as Sea Shepherd, Ocean Ramsey and Madison Stewart. We will join these experts as they explore and expose this scarcely understood topic. We will also learn the importance of sharks in our oceans while uncovering the longest marine cull in history.