Shark nets will be removed from Hunter beaches a month earlier this summer following sustained pressure from conservation groups.
The move paves the way for the complete removal of nets if local councils can guarantee alternative shark deterrents will protect swimmers.
Lake Macquarie mayor Kay Fraser said while the council did not have a preferred position on shark netting, her view was that there were better options.
"For too long we have seen endangered species getting caught. We have seen dolphins and beautiful turtles killed," she said.
"It's time for us to move to 2024 and use technology rather and antiquated nets, which are killing a lot of our beautiful wildlife."
Ms Fraser she believed new technologies offered the equivalent protection for swimmers.
"Our lifeguards are pretty good at spotting sharks and our drones are very good as well," she said.
"Shark nets don't always work; it's not like they are foolproof."
A City of Newcastle spokesman said the council supported the modernisation of shark bite risk mitigation including the removal of shark nets in favour of increased drone surveillance, SMART drumlines, and trials of additional non-lethal measures. However, shark mitigation was the responsibility of the state government.
The Newcastle Herald reported last week that the government's scientific committee had slammed shark nets as a threat to marine life. It came after data from last summer's netting program showed more than 90 per cent of marine animals caught in shark nets off NSW beaches last summer were non-target species.
A new suite of new measures to be trialed this summer include:
- Removing shark nets one month earlier, on 31 March 2025, to respond to increased turtle activity in April.
- Increasing the frequency of net inspections by contractors during March from every 3rd day to every 2nd day.
- SLS drone surveillance increased over nets during March to scout for turtles on the days contractors aren't inspecting
- Trial of lights on nets to deter turtles and prevent their entanglement during February and March.
Shark nets across NSW are also fitted with acoustic warning devices, such as dolphin pingers and whale alarms, to deter and minimise the risks to those marine mammals.
"The NSW Government's priority is the safety of beach goers, at the same time we are committed to protecting our states marine life," Agriculture minister Tara Moriarty said.
"We will be working closely with local governments, SLSNSW and Surfing NSW over this season to ensure the future of this program works for the communities it operates in," she said.
"As we map the future of this program we will listen to local communities, and consider the best available evidence to ensure we are striking the right balance at our beaches."
The $21.5 million Shark Management Program for 2024-25 is designed to protect the safety of beach users from the across 25 local government areas from Tweed to Bega, by reducing interactions with sharks, whilst minimising the impact on other marine life.
Animal Justice Party MLC Emma Hurst said that, following meetings with the NSW Government, she had hoped for trial shark net removals to begin this year, with the aim of a full phase out by next year.
"There has been no explanation or communication from the government as to why they have taken a massive step backwards on this work," she said.
"It is also a breach of Labor's election commitment to fund and move towards non-lethal
alternatives to shark nets.
"It was outrageous that Labor put shark nets back in the water last year simply because the
Agriculture Minister had failed to do the work in time to plan otherwise. The Minister has had
a year now to get it right, and yet she seems to have failed to do the work yet again.
Hundreds of animals will suffer from what seems to be utter mismanagement."
