[Greens-Media] Government Commandeers Shark Net Biodiversity Loss

[Scott Hickie]

Ian Cohen MLC
Media Release
14th November 2008

Government Commandeers Shark Net Biodiversity Loss

The New South Wales Government voted down a Greens amendment that would
have created compensatory measures to offset marine species killed in
shark nets between Wollongong and Newcastle.    

“The Government has key targets on maintaining and increasing marine
biodiversity, yet it refuses to compensate the loss of threatened marine
species at the hands of shark nets,” says Greens MP Ian Cohen. 

“Shark nets which are installed on 51 Sydney beaches during September
and April killed 1,485 marine animals between 1995 and 2004. According
to the Government’s own Scientific Committee Report in 2003 at least
six vulnerable marine species were being caught in the shark nets each
year.”  

“The Greens amendment simply asked that the Government take action to
increase aquatic reserves or Marine Park areas to make up for the
dugongs, loggerhead turtles, leathery turtles, green turtles, and
humpback whales killed in shark nets.” 

The Government claimed during debate of Fisheries Management and
Planning Legislation Amendment (Shark Meshing) Bill that by removing
full environmental impact assessment of the Shark Meshing program, the
program would enhance protection of marine species.  

“Without taking a balanced approach to shark netting and its
ecological impacts, the New South Wales Shark Meshing Program will
represent a net loss in marine biodiversity. The Government’s response
was that recreational and commercial fishing operations don’t need to
be offset so why should the shark meshing program.”    

“What we need is more education and proper risk assessment about the
important role of sharks - an apex species - in our marine environment.

“Without this amendment, all this Bill will effectively do is allow
the New South Wales Shark Netting Program to continue without the need
for Environmental or Species Impact Studies. This is completely
unacceptable for a state with one Australia’s highest rates of
extinction of threatened species.” 


Scott Hickie
Adviser to Ian Cohen MLC
Macquarie Street, Sydney, 2000
Tel: +61-2-9230 2204, 
Fax: +61-2-9230 2267
Mobile: 0404 490 566
Web: www.iancohen.org.au