Greens call for shark net removal

The Illawarra and Sutherland Greens are calling for the removal of shark nets at Garie Beach in Royal National Park and the revocation of shark meshing program on Illawarra beaches.

Cooper Riach, Greens candidate for Heathcote, said: “Shark nets do not protect beach goers, they indiscriminately kill marine wildlife. The shark net on Garie Beach must be removed and the Department of Primary Industries exemption to kill threatened species must be revoked.

“How many more dolphins, turtles, rays and other marine animals have to die before this government removes outdated and ineffective shark nets? The Greens will continue to campaign to remove shark nets from all beaches across NSW in favour of modern, more effective ways to manage the risk of sharks."

Cath Blakey, Greens Councillor and candidate for Wollongong, is presenting a notice of motion at the 27 February Wollongong City Council meeting to call on the state government to remove the Garie Beach shark net, and revoke the Biodiversity Conservation Act exemption that permits shark net deployment.

“I’m seeking Council’s support for calling for the immediate removal of the Garie Beach shark net, and revocation of the Shark Meshing Program joint management agreement between DPI and OEH," Cr Blakey said. “It’s just awful that we have the NSW environmental agency signing off on the killing of loggerhead, green and leatherback turtles."

The Threatened Species Scientific Committee states: Nets should have been pulled immediately from the areas where catches were made to ensure no further turtles were caught, and yet this did not happen.

“It’s clear shark nets fail to keep people safe, but they are death traps for different kinds of marine wildlife," Cr Blakey said.