Overview

• The NSW government has asked Waverley, Northern Beaches and Central Coast councils to each nominate a beach for a pilot removal of shark nets ahead of the 2025-26 patrol season.
• Councils must respond by 22 August, with a final cabinet decision on whether to remove nets expected by December.
• Waverley Council has conditioned its support on state-funded boosts to non-lethal measures such as drone surveillance and SMART drumlines.
• Scientists say century-old shark nets are ineffective barriers that cause widespread bycatch of turtles, dolphins and other marine life.
• Other states including South Australia and Western Australia have already adopted non-lethal shark management methods in place of nets.