Ban Killer Shark Nets in NSW

The Minns Labor government is ignoring science, evidence-based research and the community by putting shark nets back in our beaches.

The NSW Government has reinstalled shark nets at 51 beaches for the 2025–26 season. A tiny three-beach trial is planned, but the overwhelming majority of nets remain in place.

Shark nets are not barriers. Sharks can and do swim over, under and around them.

‘Premier Chris Minns and Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty know full well that shark nets create a false sense of security. Research from the University of Wollongong showed that nets are ineffective at protecting beachgoers whilst indiscriminately killing countless marine animals.'

MP Emma Hurst

Why do we want nets out:

🌊 Ineffectiveness: Shark nets have repeatedly proven ineffective at keeping swimmers safe from shark encounters. Research shows that they offer a false sense of security, as many species can easily pass through or around them. Drones, patrolled beaches, swimmer education are proven effective strategies.

🌏 Environmental Impact: Shark nets continue to pose a devastating threat to marine wildlife. In the 2023/2024 season alone, 255 marine animals were caught in NSW shark nets — with 94% of them being non-target species such as dolphins, turtles, rays, and critically endangered sharks.

Roughly one in four animals caught (65 in total) were species classified as threatened or protected under Australian law. These included:

14 grey nurse sharks (critically endangered)
13 green turtles
12 loggerhead turtles
11 leatherback turtles
9 hawksbill turtles
6 olive ridley turtles
A humpback whale became entangled

This level of bycatch is unsustainable and highlights the ecological damage caused by shark nets in our oceans.

🦈 Cruelty: Shark nets don’t just kill — they cause immense suffering. Of the 255 animals entangled in the 2023/2024 season, 64% died as a result. Animals caught in these nets often die slowly and painfully as they struggle to escape.

Every dolphin caught in the 2022/2023 season died. Roughly half of the turtles caught also died. The nets do not discriminate — they trap animals indiscriminately, leaving them to panic, suffer, and perish.

This high bycatch rate continues a troubling trend from previous years.

What we are calling for:

Legislate a ban on shark nets statewide and set a clear end date for the Shark Meshing Program.
Scale up proven non-lethal strategies — drones, listening stations, beach patrols and education.
Publish real-time bycatch data throughout the season, not months later.
Work with councils and communities to co-design safer local protection plans.