Tamara Smith, Greens MP for Ballina, is calling on state government and the department of primary industries (DPI) to commit to funding shark spotting and drone technology.
‘It is so disappointing to see the mesh nets continue to kill marine life. We are half way through the six month trial and there have been no significant catches of the shark species that the nets are supposedly designed to catch. Instead other harmless marine life is suffering,’ said Smith.
So far shark mesh nets off Ballina and Evans Head beaches have claimed four turtles – two loggerhead turtles and two green turtles were listed as dead in the previous monthly reports. Two dolphins have also died in the nets since the trial began in December 2016. The majority of species that die in the nets are different types of rays.
‘I call on the NSW government to commit to shark spotting by community groups such as Shark Watch in order to give greater protection and warning to swimmers and surfers. Shark nets don’t give any warnings and we can see that this outdated technology is not effective at catching the shark species that they are put there for,’ continued Smith.
‘Primary Industries Minister Niall Blair has been reported praising the benefits of drone technology for Northern NSW beaches, so why has he still not funded a group like Shark Watch, which uses drones as part of its shark spotting program?’
You can sign the petition to stop the shark nets a here.
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