SYDNEY (June 24, 2026)—The Minns NSW Government announcement of increased investment in the Shark Management Program gives a great boost to the drone surveillance that benefits people and animals, but the continued use of discredited shark nets undermines safety gains.
The announcement outlined an investment of 86.6 million dollars over the next two years, supporting and expanding the Shark Management Program.
Humane World for Animals Australia (previously known as Humane Society International Australia) marine biologist Lawrence Chlebeck said: “Drones are a fantastic way to enhance the safety of swimmers and surfers on our beaches without also having an unnecessary impact on animals. We applaud the state government’s further investment in the science-backed drone program. Expansion of the beaches covered, flying them during the winter, and especially at more times when swimmers and surfers are in the water, should all be implmented as soon as possible.”
However, Mr Chlebeck warns that the continued use of shark nets to entangle marine animals at our beaches serves to undermine public safety and must be removed.
“To embrace modern and effective drone technology while shark nets are still deployed at NSW beaches is counterproductive: we’ll have more eyes in the sky, while shark nets continue to entangle animals, drawing large sharks in to shore for a feed. Countless images of the animals pulled from the shark nets obtained under Freedom of Information show bite marks from the large sharks that have fed on them”, said Mr Chlebeck.
“Kind of like asbestos, shark nets are a prime example of something we did as a society before we knew any better and now we’re dealing with the legacy of the damage they cause. Discredited ideas and attitudes from the last century like shark nets and culling can give way to the modern technology the Government is investing in”.
Fast facts on shark nets:
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Shark nets are deployed at 51 beaches between Newcastle and Wollongong each summer, with the program dating back to 1937.
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Shark nets are not barriers. Very different to the shark enclosures at harbour beaches, the shark nets at issue are 150 metre-long fishing nets installed 500 metres off ocean beaches designed to ensnare sharks.
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37 bites have occurred at beaches with shark nets. The last three shark incidents on Sydney’s Northern Beaches all occurred in the vicinity of shark nets.
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90% of animals caught in shark nets are not target shark species and includes Critically Endangered wildlife.
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Shark nets do not reduce the risk of shark bite. Sharks can easily swim around them and in fact, 40% of sharks caught in them are caught on the beach side of the net.
Humane World for Animals Australia supports a modern, non-lethal approach to shark bite risk mitigation.
Media Contact: Lawrence Chlebeck: 0481 774 581; lchlebeck@humaneworld.org
About Humane World for Animals
Together, we tackle the root causes of animal cruelty and suffering to create permanent change. With millions of supporters and work happening in over 50 countries, Humane World for Animals—formerly called Humane Society International—addresses the most deeply entrenched forms of animal cruelty and suffering. As the leading voice in the animal protection space, we work to end the cruelest practices, care for animals in crisis and build a stronger animal protection movement. Driving toward the greatest global impact, we aim to achieve the vision behind our name: a more humane world.
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Contact details:
Media Contact: Lawrence Chlebeck: 0481 774 581; lchlebeck@humaneworld.org
