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Environment

Shark Nets in NSW Are Killing Lots of Dolphins, Not Many Sharks

Plus lots of turtles and over 100 stingrays.
Image via shutterstock

You may recall that period in 2016 when three separate shark attacks hit the Byron Bay area in the space of a few weeks. Understandably people were upset and scared, and the NSW Government responded by rolling out a series of shark nets. Now the latest kill-score for marine life has been released, and the nets are catching way more of everything other than sharks.

In the last five months, a total of 145 animals were caught in the nets, but only two of those were target sharks. The bulk of the tally was made up of eight turtles, four dolphins, 34 protected and non-dangerous shark species, and over 100 stingrays. Many of these were found dead after becoming entangled in the nets.

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According to the ABC, Don Munro, the guy who campaigned particularly hard for the nets, the former president of the Lennox-Ballina Boardriders, is now having second thoughts.

"There is definitely not the same support for nets that there was," Don told ABC reporters Bruce MacKenzie and Leah White. "Everybody has to be concerned about the bycatch.”

Among the most ardent net critics is Ballina deputy mayor Keith Williams, who pointed out to The Northern Star that these numbers have actually arisen only after the nets were redesigned. The original nets from 2016 were killing too many non-target species so they were recalled, redesigned, and redeployed, only to kill even more random animals the second time around.

"Over the two trials we have now killed a total of eight dolphins," Keith said. "Our local Richmond River pod was only 60 animals when we started.”

He’s now urging people to get on the NSW Department of Primary Industries website and vote for the nets to be removed.

"When only two of the animals caught in the nets are target species, you have to admit this isn't working and say enough is enough," Keith said.

The link to the survey is here and closes end of Wednesday.