NSW shark nets to be removed a month early as more turtles head south in summer

For years, sea turtles have been nesting along the east coast of Australia - but as global heating causes waters to warm, the marine animals are pushing farther south and into areas off Sydney where shark nets are in place every summer.

In anticipation of increased turtle activity in April next year, the New South Wales government has announced it will remove the shark nets one month early, on 31 March. 15 ……  . "Nets are an outdated antique of beach safety, and taking them out forever will not increase the risk for swimmers," said Dr Christopher Pepin-Neff, an expert on shark attacks and policymaking. "It will, however, be more balanced for the active marine ecosystem that functions along the beaches."

Sea turtles move large distances during summer, from warm feeding grounds to areas with cooler waters. 16 …… 

Professor Kathy Townsend said sea turtles generally tend to move closer to the coast. “Unlike a lot of other large pelagic species, sea turtles do actually have a very defined coastal stage,” she said. “17 …… .” 

More than 90% of the marine animals that were caught in shark nets off the coast of New South Wales were non-target species, and concern for sea turtles moving closer to human-made objects during migration has been building. “ 18 ……,” said Dr Vanessa Pirotta from Macquarie University.

Under the government’s new Shark Management Program, nets will be inspected every two days instead of three, and drone usage increased on days when nets are not being inspected, to scope for turtles that may have become trapped. 19 …… . 

“About 40% of sharks caught in nets are caught on the swimmer side, the side of the beach, trying to get out … so the net is not keeping them out.” Beaches in Durban and Natal, South Africa, have reduced shark nets by 30% with no uptick in shark bites, Pepin-Neff said. “20 ……” he said. 

“While we welcome the announcement to shorten the meshing season, we can’t ignore the fact that the nets will still be in place for six months,” said Lawrence Chlebeck, marine biologist with Humane Society International Australia. “The government knows shark nets don’t stop shark bites, and they know nets are killing marine animals.”