Protect marine animals and their environment
Petitioner:
Miss Clare Werbeloff
| Member:
Crouch, Adam
| No. of Signatories:
3,457
| Date closed:
19/10/2023
To the Speaker and Members of the Legislative Assembly,
This Petition of New South Wales residents brings to the attention of the House the New South Wales Shark Meshing Program, which takes place along the New South Wales coastline from September 1st to April 30th every year. The program uses fishing nets at 51 beaches from Newcastle to Wollongong that are patrolled by lifeguards.
The 2016 NSW Legislative Assembly Committee on Investment, Industry and Regional Development inquiry into Management of Sharks in New South Wales Waters, and the 2017 Federal inquiry into Shark Mitigation and Deterrent Measures undertaken by the Senate Environment and Communications References Committee found that nets kill mostly non-shark species and damage the marine environment without any proven safety benefits for swimmers.
Both enquiries urged an end to shark netting, in favour of non-lethal methods. Some non-lethal methods that improve beachgoer safety include swimming enclosures that provide a full barrier between swimmers and sharks, water surveillance (helicopters, drones, spotters on headlands/beaches), shark management alert in real time technology and shark safety education programs.
This petition asks the Legislative Assembly to call on the Government to immediately end the use of shark meshing (nets) at NSW beaches and instead use methods that help keep beach users safe in ways that do not harm marine animals or damage the marine environment.
