Shark Nets Don’t Protect - They Attract

The NSW Government’s 2025 Shark Meshing Program began in September, and hidden Government files obtained regarding the first month of operation have already exposed a troubling reality.

Images obtained under the state’s Freedom of Information Act (GIPA) reveal that on the first fortnight of the shark nets being redeployed, a tiger shark, one of the DPI’s ‘target species, was caught and killed on the Central Coast’s Shelly Beach, and left to attract larger sharks to the area. When the carcass was retrieved, it showed clear evidence of predation by a potentially larger, more predatory shark. This poses a critical question, do shark nets make beaches more dangerous by attracting predators for any easy meal?

Retrieved Fraction of a Deceased Tiger Shark With Large Bite

This isn’t an isolated case. Similar incidents have been documented hundreds of times over the years, painting a consistent picture: shark nets create bait close to our beaches. A struggling, bleeding animal trapped just offshore is a powerful attractant for apex predators, turning popular swimming areas into feeding zones. 

To add, the James Cook University report “The Scientific Basis for Global Safety Guidelines to Reduce Shark Bite Risks” (p. 33) states:

“Sharks are known to respond to and be attracted to the sounds of struggling prey. Shark nets are placed with the intention of capturing large “dangerous” sharks, but the catch of any marine animals may attract large sharks to these gears. Increased shark activity near nets has the potential to increase negative shark-human interactions, so avoiding waters close to the nets is recommended.”

Sharks are opportunistic predators, and some may potentially be inclined to associate netted beaches with the scent of dead or dying marine life entangled in the nets. Sharks caught in the DPI’s Shark Meshing Program become an easy meal for larger, potentially more dangerous predatory sharks. In effect, these nets, marketed as a ’safety measure’, are drawing predatory sharks closer to beach goers. Whilst target sharks are highly migratory and will soon move on, making habituation unlikely, the wisdom of arousing them into a feeding state near swimmers and surfers is highly questionable.

Approximately $2.6 million in public funds continues to be allocated annually to maintain this outdated and ineffective system. These resources would be better directed towards transitioning net contractors into roles that support non-lethal alternatives, which prioritise human safety.

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