Report Into the NSW Shark Meshing (Bather Protection) Program
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Report into the NSW Shark Meshing (Bather Protection) Program Incorporating a review of the existing program and environmental assessment MARCH 2009 Public Consultation Document Title: Report into the NSW Shark Meshing (Bather Protection) Program Authors: Green, M., Ganassin, C. and Reid, D. D. © State of New South Wales through NSW Department of Primary Industries 2009 This publication is copyright. You may download, display, print and reproduce this material in an unaltered form only (retaining this notice) for your personal use or for non-commercial use within your organisation. To copy, adapt, publish, distribute or commercialise any of this publication you will need to seek permission from the Manager Publishing, NSW Department of Primary Industries, Orange, NSW. For updates to this publication, check http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/ Published by NSW DPI Fisheries Conservation and Aquaculture Branch First Published March 2009 ISBN 978 0 7347 1942 3 Acknowledgements: Brett Andrew, Megan Ellis, Peter Gallagher, Vic Peddemors and Patrick Tully (NSW DPI) are thanked for reviewing drafts of this document. Disclaimer: The publishers do not warrant that the information in this report is free from errors or omissions. The publishers do not accept any form of liability, be it contractual, tortuous or otherwise, for the contents of this report for any consequences arising from its use or any reliance placed upon it. The information contained in this document is based on knowledge and understanding at the time of writing (March 2009). However, because of advances in knowledge, users are reminded of the need to ensure that information on which they rely is up to date and to check the currency of the information with the appropriate officer of New South Wales Department of Primary Industries or the user’s independent advisor. This document has been prepared for a specific purpose and should not be relied upon, or used in whole or in a modified form for any other purpose. Proponents or authors of environmental assessments should seek the advice of the NSW Department of Planning. Proponents of other Joint Management Agreements should consult with the relevant department. File reference: TRIM INT08/68143 Public Consultation Document, March 2009 CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY...................................................................................................................V 1 INTRODUCTION .....................................................................................................................1 1.1 BACKGROUND AND AIMS................................................................................................................ 1 1.2 LEGISLATIVE CONTEXT ................................................................................................................... 2 1.3 STRUCTURE AND SCOPE OF THIS REPORT ................................................................................. 3 2 REVIEW OF THE EXISTING SHARK MESHING PROGRAM .......................................4 2.1 OBJECTIVES ......................................................................................................................................... 4 2.2 AREA OF OPERATION........................................................................................................................ 5 2.2.1 Scope and number of contractors .................................................................................................. 5 2.2.2 Marine protected areas within the area of operation..................................................................... 5 2.2.3 Other factors that potentially influence the operation of the SMP ............................................... 8 2.3 OPERATIONAL CHARACTERISTICS............................................................................................... 9 2.3.1 Contractual arrangements and implementation............................................................................. 9 2.3.2 Gear and deployment ..................................................................................................................... 9 2.3.3 Boats used in the SMP ................................................................................................................. 10 2.3.4 Mitigative measures to reduce capture of non-target animals .................................................... 11 2.3.5 Procedures for handling captured animals .................................................................................. 12 2.3.6 Scientific studies .......................................................................................................................... 12 2.3.7 Data gathering, management and reporting ................................................................................ 12 2.4 OTHER MEASURES TO MINIMISE SHARK ATTACKS .............................................................. 14 2.4.1 Complementary measures to the shark meshing program .......................................................... 14 2.4.2 Alternative meshing protocols..................................................................................................... 16 2.5 BATHER PROTECTION STRATEGIES IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS......................................... 19 2.5.1 Small-scale bather protection strategies used overseas............................................................... 19 2.5.2 The Queensland Shark Control Program..................................................................................... 21 2.5.3 KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa...................................................................................................... 23 2.6 UNPROVOKED SHARK ATTACKS IN NSW ................................................................................. 26 2.6.1 Data sources and limitations........................................................................................................ 26 2.6.2 Trends in unprovoked shark attacks in NSW, 1791 to March 2009........................................... 26 2.6.3 Shark attacks by region in NSW, 1900 to March 2009 .............................................................. 33 2.6.4 Species implicated in shark attacks .............................................................................................35 2.6.5 Seasonality of shark attack .......................................................................................................... 36 2.6.6 Time of shark attacks................................................................................................................... 36 2.6.7 Biological and habitat factors ...................................................................................................... 36 2.6.8 Comparisons with other Australian states and overseas statistics .............................................. 37 2.6.9 Conclusions.................................................................................................................................. 37 2.7 RECOMMENDATIONS ARISING FROM THE REVIEW OF THE EXISTING PROGRAM ...... 38 2.7.1 Administrative and reporting procedures.................................................................................... 38 2.7.2 Temporal extent ........................................................................................................................... 39 Report into the NSW Shark Meshing (Bather Protection) Program | i Public Consultation Document, March 2009 2.7.3 Operational characteristics ...........................................................................................................39 2.7.4 Trends in unprovoked shark attacks.............................................................................................41 3 ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT OF THE EXISTING SHARK MESHING PROGRAM.............................................................................................................................. 42 3.1 GENERAL CATCH STATISTICS, 1950 TO 2008.............................................................................42 3.2 SHARKS................................................................................................................................................43 3.2.1 Groups/species..............................................................................................................................43 3.2.2 Regional catch trends ...................................................................................................................48 3.2.3 Annual catch trends ......................................................................................................................49 3.2.4 Seasonal catch trends....................................................................................................................52 3.2.5 Sharks released alive from 1995/96 to 2007/08...........................................................................53 3.2.6 Risk analysis for sharks................................................................................................................54 3.3 RAYS.....................................................................................................................................................62 3.3.1 Species ..........................................................................................................................................62 3.3.2 Catch trends ..................................................................................................................................62 3.3.3 Rays released alive from