Shark nets are not barriers to the open sea. In New South Wales they only reach halfway to the ocean surface and stretch merely 150m in length. These devices, installed at beaches spanning hundreds of metres, are essentially flapping pieces of fishing gear.

Source: Sea Shepherd Australia
Shark nets are installed at 51 beaches between Newcastle and Wollongong from September – April every year. The nets are removed between May – August to allow for the migration of whales. We believe that since shark nets don’t provide effective protection for people, they should be permanently removed to allow all marine life to pass through NSW waters unimpeded.