2y ago

Shark nets to return to NSW beaches despite calls from councils to abolish practice

www.theguardian.com

Environmentalists say nets’ bycatch unacceptable but premier Chris Minns says alternative technologies not as good a replacement

5 comments

I’d almost 90% of the catches were not sharks then it sounds to me like shark nets are also woefully ineffective.
This is the best summary I could come up with:
The state’s premier, Chris Minns, confirmed that the government will install shark nets across 51 beaches from Newcastle to Wollongong in time for the summer season.
The decision defies this month’s Department of Primary Industries report, which found almost 90% of marine animals caught in shark nets off NSW beaches over the past year were non-target species such as turtles, rays and dolphins.
The mayor of Waverley, Paula Masselos, who oversees some of Sydney’s most famous beaches including Bondi, Tamarama and Bronte, said the state government must embrace 21st-century technologies that are more effective, such as surveillance drones and Smart drumlines.
Dr Vanessa Pirotta from Macquarie University’s Marine Predator Research Group said Smart drumline technology should be used as an alternative to shark nets.
In February last year, British expat Simon Nellist was killed by a 3-metre great white shark at Little Bay in Sydney’s Randwick council area.
Animal Justice party MP Emma Hurst said the premier’s decision to put shark nets back in the water was “cowardly” and urged the government to implement alternatives.
The original article contains 731 words, the summary contains 175 words. Saved 76%. I'm a bot and I'm open source!
How about this: if you don't want to get eaten by sharks, don't go in their home.
Its the fear that drives us
Cowards alright. They won't remove the nets because of the misguided accusations when there is inevitably another attack.