Submission to the Senate Inquiry into Shark Mitigation and Deterrent Measures Ballina Environment Society Inc. welcomes this Parliamentary Inquiry and the opportunity to put forward this submission. BES has been working to protect the Ballina environment for over 30 years, forming in 1982 and becoming incorporated in 1987. The deployment of ‘shark nets’ as a mitigation strategy on the far north coast of NSW is currently a major concern to the Society. BES strongly opposes this measure. Shark nets could only be considered a placebo, due to the public perception of protection, as it is not possible for the four 150m nets deployed in Ballina Shire, within 500 meters of the shore to prevent shark attacks. (http://www.9news.com.au/national/2017/02/24/11/00/drone-spots- great-white-metres-from-surfer). Approximate location of shark nets in Ballina Shire BES Submission to the Senate Inquiry into Shark Mitigation and Deterrent Measures Page 1 of 3 But a placebo does not have negative impacts, whereas in the first two months of the trial reports show two dolphins died and five turtles were caught - three died (two loggerhead turtles washed up dead on local beaches soon after). A total of 18 non-targeted marine species have been ensnared. 109 non-target species have been trapped in two months, of which 42 were killed. Only five target species have been caught. One bull shark and one white shark were dead. The net at Lennox Head is within the Cape Byron Marine Park. This net was responsible for the death of one Bottlenose Dolphin, two Great Hammerhead Sharks, an Australian Crownose Ray and a Long-tailed Tuna in the first month - 5 of the 12 animals killed in December. Another five non-target species were reported caught in January, one Manta Ray died. BES encourages this inquiry to investigate: License to kill cetacean species: How can we challenge Japanese scientific whaling, when we employ measure which are expected to result in the death of dolphins and whales? DPI acknowledges dolphins caught in nets have a 30 minute life expectancy (http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fishing/sharks/management/shark-net-trial/faq) yet (weather permitting) this is outside the capability of contractors boats to reach and check nets - if smart technology is effective in detecting a catch; Education: 1st Aid courses should be included as part of the curriculum in years 5-7; Financial cost of netting: How much are contractors paid to deploy, retrieve and check nets, what commitments are included in their contracts and what are the penalties for non- compliance; Ecological cost of netting: Fatalities of bycatch and target species which are protected and appropriateness of netting in Marine Parks Improved accountability: Contractors should have go-pro or similar digital recording devices active at all times while setting, monitoring and retrieving nets. Poor communication: No signs are posted when nets are or are not insitu; Ineffective mitigation: To really protect areas with nets - they’re going to need a bigger net; Unacceptable bycatch: non species specific death by suffocation and strangulation is inhumane; Impacts of storms and rough seas: The Eco-barriers would still be in place if they were set in December. Shark nets have not been proved under East Coast Low conditions. Navigation of Ballina Bar: Ballina Bar is a notorious crossing and could easily become impassable preventing nets from being checked or being removed before storms; Surfer safety: Surf breaks are largely outside netted areas and the winter swell and offshore conditions mean at prime surf times, nets would not be used because of whale migration which coincides with increased shark numbers. Protected status of target species: If Great White Sharks are protected, how can they be targeted. Science: Is there a problem in increased numbers of sharks, or increased numbers of humans in the water? What is causing the problem and how would the removal of the top predators impact on the ecosystem? BES Submission to the Senate Inquiry into Shark Mitigation and Deterrent Measures Page 2 of 3 Alternatives that should be considered: o Drones and blimps (blimps do not require recharging and can remain insitu); o Warning signs (flags or lights) when tagged sharks are detected on Shark Smart apps, or other sharks are sighted; o Funding for Surf Life Savers to cover an extended swimming season, not just holiday patrols funded by local Council; o Personal protective devices and non-lethal in water deterrents; o temporary netting of entire areas when nippers are training. Some people argue the nets are a proven success as there has not been an attack in the two months of the trial. There has not been an attack at North Creek Bridge since the first shark nets were installed in 1937 but no-one would argue North Creek Bridge is shark safe. There have been two shark fatalities in Ballina. One occurred in April 2008 and one in February 2015. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_fatal_shark_attacks_in_Australia). Eight shark attacks were reported in NSW in 2016, five injuries (https://taronga.org.au/conservation/conservation-science-research/australian-shark-attack- file/2016). There have been four serious attacks in Ballina in two years, an average of one every six months so it is not against the odds there hasn't been an attack during the two month trial. Horses and dogs are responsible for more deaths than sharks. (http://www.australiangeographic.com.au/topics/wildlife/2016/03/here-are-the-animals-really- most-likely-to-kill-you-in-australia/) 96 People drowned in NSW between July 2015 and June 2016. 280 People drowned in Australia, 23% on beaches. (http://www.royallifesaving.com.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/18085/RLS_NDR2016_Report LR.pdf) Money spent on first aid education, Surf Life Saving and mitigation devices like drones equipped with rescue equipment is a far better investment in protecting life than non species specific shark nets. There is little information on how much of the $16 million over 5 years allocated to shark mitigation has been invested in the shark net trial, but, without doubt, this money could have been better spent. Ballina Council recently installed Aboriginal Heritage signage along the Coastal Recreational Pathway. The story shared at Sharpes Beach, next to the shark net trial, recounts the legend of the ‘porpoise’ killed after it was caught in a net. It is easier to tell the story than learn the lesson, as it is easier to talk about respect for our heritage and environment than show it. BES thanks the Environment and Communications References Committee for the opportunity to make this submission and hopes the inquiry will find a way of protecting and enhancing both marine life and human life through the outcomes. Prepared by Fiona Folan MSc(Arch) 3rd March, 2017 BES Submission to the Senate Inquiry into Shark Mitigation and Deterrent Measures Page 3 of 3 .