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Question and Answer Tracking Details

4306 - Agriculture - NETTED BEACHES

Hurst, Emma to the Minister for Agriculture, Minister for Regional New South Wales, and Minister for Western New South Wales
NETTED BEACHES

(1) There are 51 'netted beaches' across New South Wales. What size or area of water does the Department considered humans to be "protected" by a shark net?

(a) Is the "protected" area of water defined by straight lines or by a radius from the net?

(b) Could you please provide details as to the size or dimensions of the protected area?

(2) How is the area of a netted beach defined for reporting?

(a) For example, when determining whether a shark-human interaction has occurred at a netted beach or not?

(3) Does the Department hold the position that shark nets deter or stop sharks from establishing 'territories' near netted beaches?

(a) If so, could you please provide details of any scientific literature, research or other evidence relied upon to support this position?
Answer -

I am advised:

(1) Shark mitigation measures, including shark nets, are not measured in terms of the size or area of protection. The NSW Shark Management Program uses a mix of traditional and modern technologies to reduce the chances of an interaction between target sharks and humans at beaches where the controls are deployed.

(2) If there is net at a beach, it is defined as a netted beach.

(3) The Shark Management Program is designed to target white, tiger and bull sharks. These species have been shown to be highly migratory and even though they may revisit regions on their annual migrations, they do not appear to establish territories.

(a) This has been demonstrated by results from our world-leading tagging and tracking program within our Shark Management Program.

Question asked on 1 August 2025 (session 58-1) and published in Questions & Answers Paper No. 552
Answer received on 22 August 2025 and published in Questions & Answers Paper No. 567

The Parliament of New South Wales acknowledges and respects the traditional lands of all Aboriginal people, and pays respects to all Elders past and present. We acknowledge the Gadigal people as the traditional custodians of the land on which the Parliament of New South Wales stands.