The NSW Government may have removed its shark nets early this year, but it's still refusing to commit to scrapping them permanently – even after its own expert panel found no solid evidence they actually work.

A new report from the state’s Threatened Species Scientific Committee backs what ocean advocates have been saying for years: shark nets offer no real protection to people and come at a serious cost to marine life.

Of the 255 animals caught in shark nets last season, 94 per cent were non-target species – including dolphins, turtles, rays and critically endangered grey nurse sharks. Just 36 per cent were released alive, but what happened to them afterwards is unknown.

Environmentalists welcomed a significant, hard-fought win last week when the 51 beach nets between Newcastle and Wollongong were removed a month early on March 31, 2025 – a move aimed at protecting migrating turtles. The government says it will review the results of this season's shark mitigation strategies before deciding what comes next.

But Laura Wells, a Woonona-based science communicator and board member of Surfrider Foundation Australia, isn’t convinced a major shake-up is on the way.

“Politicians tend to stick with shark nets not because they work, but because they’re visible,” Laura says. “It’s more about peace of mind – something they can point to and say, ‘No one was hurt on my watch’.

“It comes down to wanting to cover their bums. If something happens, they don’t want to be blamed for taking the nets out.”

Laura says shark nets, which have been around since the 1930s, were never meant to be a barrier. They’re short, shallow and only cover part of the beach, meaning sharks can easily swim over, under or around them.

“These are outdated methods and they don’t belong in a modern world,” she says.

“We know at least 40 per cent of animals are caught on the beach side – the side swimmers are on. They’re not offering real protection. It’s just the illusion of safety.

“Something I like to ask people is: ‘What beaches actually have shark nets?’ Most can’t answer.

“In the Illawarra, for example, we have seven shark nets, but hardly anyone could tell you where they are – they swim at beaches and feel completely safe, not realising there’s no net at all.”

The nets are off Coledale, Austinmer, Thirroul, North Wollongong, City Beach, Garie and Wattamolla – all popular tourist beaches, but not necessarily where shark activity is highest. They are, however, where people like to fly their drones.

Aerial footage posted to Facebook last year by Austinmer local Peter Armstrong, showing a dead dolphin tangled in a net off Thirroul, drew hundreds of angry comments and reignited calls to scrap the program.

“I think social media had a big part to do with it,” Laura says of the decision to bring the nets down early.

“There are so many people with drones now – and you can actually see what’s getting caught. Some of the footage is really upsetting, but it’s helping shift public perception.”

Newer, safer tools are already in use across the region. Since 2021, Surf Life Saving NSW has run a state-funded drone surveillance program. 

Drones patrol beaches from Stanwell Park to Gerringong for up to seven hours a day, sounding sirens and loudspeaker warnings when sharks are spotted. Alerts go out through the SharkSmart app and social media.

There are also listening stations at Stanwell Park, Shellharbour and Kiama. When a tagged shark is detected within 500 metres of the coast, users are notified in real time via the app.

“These are modern tools that work – and don’t kill marine life,” Laura says. “They help keep beaches safe, and they’re improving all the time.”

She says the answer also lies in education, not just technology.

“Knowing not to swim at dawn or dusk, and choosing beaches with lifeguards – that makes a real difference.”

But even with better tools and more awareness, change is slow.

“It’s been a hard battle for environmentalists, conservationists and scientists – and one they won’t give up on,” she says.

“We know these shark nets are harming endangered species. And realistically, when it comes to protecting people, they’re not doing much at all.”

How the drone patrols work

Surf Life Saving NSW runs drone patrols at five locations across the Illawarra, scanning the water for sharks and helping lifeguards act quickly when needed.

Drones fly up to seven hours a day – usually between 9am and 4pm – depending on conditions, with pilots conducting two 20-minute missions every hour.

When a shark is spotted heading toward swimmers, the pilot sounds a siren and issues a loudspeaker warning from the drone, then alerts lifeguards on the beach, who can also sound the surf club alarm. Lifesavers may use jet-skis or IRBs to help clear the water and steer the shark away.

An alert is also sent to users through the SharkSmart app and X, and another notification goes out when the beach is reopened.

There are 55 trained drone pilots operating across the Illawarra – 29 paid and 26 volunteers – based at surf clubs in Stanwell Park, Coledale, Shellharbour, Kiama and Gerringong.

All pilots complete a two-day course covering air safety, drone handling and shark spotting. Many go on to complete an advanced Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) Remote Pilots Licence, which includes five days of theory and flight training.

Since the program began in 2017, Surf Life Saving NSW says drones have helped prevent “hundreds of interactions” between sharks and swimmers. In the Illawarra last summer, drone pilots took preventative action on 16 separate occasions.

The drones have also helped lifeguards spot swimmers in distress outside the flags and direct rescue efforts from above.

The grey nurse shark toll 

In the 2023-24 season, 14 grey nurse sharks were caught in shark nets. Six were dead, eight were released alive – but it’s not known what happened to them.

“Two of those sharks were caught right here in the Illawarra – and it’s devastating,” says Laura, who has hosted panel discussions aimed at their conservation.

Bushrangers Bay, near Shellharbour, is one of several known spots on the east coast where you can still see the critically endangered grey nurse shark. They’re slow-moving, pose little risk to swimmers and are loved by divers.

“These are amazing animals to see underwater,” Laura says.

“They attract tourists and play an important role in ocean health – and in turn, human health. We have to do whatever we can to protect them.”