THE Greens are calling for the NSW Government’s $86.4 million dollar Sharksmart program fund to be redirected to non-lethal measures, after it says a “reduced” number of nets will be removed from beaches this swimming season. 

Wollongong City Council’s Ward 1 Greens councillor Jess Whittaker said there are elements of the Sharksmart program that she strongly supports, such as education and trauma kits for a fast response in the event of a shark interaction.

The NSW Government released its 2024-25 Shark Management Program in July 2024.

Key details include the use of 305 SMART drumlines, the removal of 51 shark nets, 50 Surf Life Saving drones, and 37 tagged shark listening stations.

Listen stations have been installed at Stanwell Park and Wollongong City beaches. When a tagged target shark swims within 500m of a tagged shark listening station, an alert is sent to the public via the SharkSmart App and X.

Measures for the season involved removing nets earlier and increasing frequency of inspections and drone surveillance. The government also confirmed that three councils would trial the removal of shark nets for the 2025/2026 season,

Cr Whittaker said she is disappointed Wollongong wasn’t included in the trial to remove shark nets from beaches.

“We don’t need to be netting wildlife off our beaches, as it’s incredibly cruel and there is no evidence to support nets being effective in protecting people from sharks,” she said.

“There is evidence however, that lifeguards on beaches protect swimmers from sharks as well as from drowning.”

Cr Whittaker said since 2012, 166 Grey Nurse sharks have been killed in NSW shark nets.

“The NSW Government is driving them to extinction,” she said.  

Cr Whittaker said the NSW Government is also planning to redeploy the Garie Beach and Watamolla nets in the Royal National Park this season.

“I have personally asked the Member for Heathcote to advocate for these nets to be removed, as a priority,” she said.

“We have seen in the data that the Royal National Park nets have a particularly high kill rate of native wildlife, which is shocking given the environmental and cultural significance of the area.”

Cr Whittaker said Wollongong City Council has continued to oppose shark nets off NSW beaches.

“I understand some councils didn’t want to choose which beach, but if we were offered the chance to remove a net, I would suggest simply examining the data and removing the one that has the highest wildlife kill rate,” she said.

“Both federal and state governments have a responsibility to protect biodiversity in NSW, and they are failing to do so by redeploying nets along NSW beaches today.”

The NSW Minister for Agriculture Tara Moriarty said the Government’s priority is the safety of beach goers, while protecting marine life.

The Minister said the Government is working with local governments, SLSNSW and Surfing NSW to ensure the future of the program works for the communities where it operates.

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