NSW Shark Meshing publications

NSW DPI manages the NSW Shark Meshing (Bather Protection) Program (SMP) in accordance with joint management agreements and associated management plan. A total of 51 ocean beaches from Wollongong to Newcastle are currently netted between 1 September and 30 April each year using. The nets are ‘sunk nets’ set below the surface in about 10 to 12 metres of water, within 500 metres of the shore. The nets are fitted with acoustic warning devices to alert dolphins and whales.

NSW DPI reviewed the SMP and prepared the Report into the NSW Shark Meshing Program, which describes the operational aspects of the SMP, assesses its potential environmental impacts, and made some recommendations as to how to mitigate those impacts. The Report is an important reference source to inform public understanding of the SMP, and provides a baseline against which future changes can be measured.

NSW DPI scientists undertake a range of scientific research and some of the paperes relating specifically to sharks are listed below. For more information refer to fisheries and ecosystems research.

For more general information refer to Primefact 147 - Shark Meshing (Bather Protection) Program.

• SharkSmart Brochure  581.1 KB
  
• NSW Shark Meshing Program (Primefact 147)
  
• SharkSmart brochure request form
  
• Joint Management Agreement & Management Plan for the NSW Shark Meshing (Bather Protection) Program  313.8 KB
  
• Report into the NSW Shark Meshing Program  1.8 MB
  
• Annual Performance Report 2009-10 - for the NSW Shark Meshing (Bather Protection) Program  3.3 MB
  
• Annual Performance Report 2010-11 - for the NSW Shark Meshing (Bather Protection) Program    2.2 MB
  
• Annual Performance Report 2011-12 - for the NSW Shark Meshing (Bather Protection) Program  2.3 MB
  

Scientific Papers specifically about sharks include:

• Biology, ecology, distribution and abundance of marine protected areas for the conservation of threatened grey nurse sharks in SE Australian waters.
• Demersal diversity diets and demise of deepwater dogsharks off NSW.
• Distribution, abundance and biology of the smalltooth sand tiger (or Herbsts nurse shark).
• Endangered Australian sharks and their interactions with line fishing in coastal waters.
• How does the biology of the NSW gummy shark relate to the southern Australian population?
• Lunar landings: relationship between lunar phase and catch rates in NSW game tournament fishery (including sharks).
• NSW gamefish tournament monitoring 2007. 
• Pop up archival tracking of the critically endangered grey nurse shark in SE Australian waters.
• Report from the scientific shark protection summit 2006.