Dean Dunstone, of Waves Surf School, recently photographed on the world famous Bondi Beach. He made his radical conviction clear that shark nets should be removed. His comments come as the New South Wales state government considers a trial. If successful, this expensive trial is expected to remove nets at thirteen popular beaches along the east coast. Tamarama was the only beach in the Waverley Council area to have no shark nets. In stark opposition, Bondi and Bronte beaches both have shark nets.
Even the shark net Bondi now employs is inadequate. It extends only 150 meters across the one-kilometer-long beach. This trial could potentially change the safety measures in place for beachgoers, leading to an important discussion about marine safety and public perception. The state government is currently in very active discussions with a number of these councils. Among them are Waverley, Northern Beaches, and Central Coast, and they have been requested to nominate beaches for possible net removal.
Government Initiative and Local Reactions
Earlier this week, the state government sent a letter to local councils. They’re asking for public comment about the removal of shark nets on protective beaches. An announcement on which beaches will be taking part in the trial is due by December. Waverley Mayor Will Nemesh expressed his belief that if shark nets were removed from Bondi Beach, there would need to be “additional measures” funded to ensure public safety.
Senior government minister Ryan Park emphasized that the administration is actively evaluating data regarding the effectiveness and safety of shark nets. He stated, “I think it’s an opportunity for them to use the technology,” suggesting that alternative safety measures may be explored.
Dunstone remarked on the misconceptions surrounding shark nets, saying, “A lot of them think that there’s a net all the way across, that it’s a big barrier, but it’s not.” He thinks that taking the nets away would help swimmers learn more about being safe in the ocean.
Perspectives on Shark Nets
Support for retaining the shark nets is still quite high among beachgoers. We hear from Mike, a visiting Kiwi who is adamant that shark nets are the only thing keeping him safe. He articulated his feelings about swimming in protected waters, saying, “knowing that I can swim in there without the sharks being around me while I’m swimming” reassures him.
Instead, Dave Pearson, the founder of Bite Club and a shark attack survivor, offered a more ambivalent perspective. He acknowledged the effectiveness of existing measures, stating, “There’s 51 beaches that use them [shark nets] and there’s 305 smart drum lines, and they’ve been quite effective.” Pearson has been out front with supporting the scientific approach to safety. They’re calling for increased ocean swimmer education on the dangers of the ocean. He stated, “We’ve all got to learn to use the ocean better and truly understand what is happening out there.”
His experiences have kept Pearson pushing the envelope on safety precautions over the years, trying to use everything from standard precautions to more unusual measures like camouflaged wetsuits. He conceded that although shark nets catch sharks alive without killing them, they do not guarantee complete safety.
Mixed Opinions Among Swimmers
Debate over the future of shark nets at Bondi beach and other beaches around the country are inflamed. Then swimmers weigh in with equally divided opinions. Tahlia expressed her ambivalence on the issue, saying, “I’m not strong on either side but I think I probably feel safer swimming in the beach with a shark net there.”
This raises the question of how far legislators should weigh constituent concerns about safety against clearly understood ecological harms. The state government’s impending decision is set to have far-reaching impacts on swimmers and beachgoers across New South Wales.
