NSW Government Announces Summer’s Shark Management Approach

The NSW Government is prioritizing beachgoer safety this summer while enhancing protections for marine life through the 2024-25 Shark Management Program. The program aims to balance community expectations with effective shark management strategies.

Key Initiatives for the 2024-25 Season:

1. Shark Nets

Adjustments: o Removal of shark nets one month earlier, on March 31, 2025, to protect turtles during their increased activity in April. o Increased frequency of net inspections by contractors in March, from every third day to every second day. o Enhanced Surf Life Saving (SLS) drone surveillance over nets in March on non-inspection days to monitor for turtles. o Trial of lights on nets during February and March to deter turtles and prevent entanglement. o Fitting shark nets with acoustic warning devices like dolphin pingers and whale alarms to minimize risks to marine mammals.

2. Comprehensive Shark Management Tools: o A $21.5 million investment in the Shark Management Program for 2024-25, covering 25 local government areas from Tweed to Bega. o Drone surveillance using 50 drones in partnership with Surf Life Saving NSW. o 37 year-round tagged shark listening stations along the NSW coast. o Deployment of 305 SMART (SharkManagement-Alert-inReal-Time) drumlines across 19 LGAs. o Shark nets at 51 beaches across eight LGAs from September 1, 2024, to March 31, 2025. o Funding of $500,000 to Surfng NSW for mitigation support, including trauma response kits, drones, and training. o SharkSmart community education program, including shark and social research.

Achievements from the

2023-24 Season:

• Training of 400 drone pilots who conducted over 36,000 fights, observing 362 sharks.

• Use of SMART drumlines resulting in the capture, tagging, and release of 413 target sharks, such as white, tiger, and bull sharks.

• Tracking of tagged sharks by the state’s 37 coastal listening stations, with data accessible via the SharkSmart app, website, and X (Twitter).

• Over 2,000 target sharks have been tagged and monitored since the program’s inception.

Minister for Agriculture, Tara Moriarty, said: “The NSW Government’s priority is the safety of beachgoers while also protecting our state’s marine life. We will work closely with local governments, SLSNSW, and Surfng NSW to ensure the program’s future aligns with community needs. This year, we have responded to feedback by enhancing safeguards for marine animals. As we plan the program’s future, we will listen to local communities and use the best available evidence to ensure a balanced approach at our beaches.”

For more information, visit SharkSmart: www. sharksmart.nsw.gov.au