I chose plastics, because I knew I could make a real difference in my own life by quitting all plastics. I try to keep my message consistent, but it all stems from a love of the sea & her creatures. Well, the NSW government has commenced a six-month trial of "shark nets," to reduce the risk of shark encounters on the North Coast of NSW. The report was released today, revealing slack checking of nets and a higher than expected death toll of 12 individuals, including a protected bottlenose dolphin at Seven Mile Beach, Lennox Head.

Photos by Nicole McLachlan, ocean photographer and activist.

22 people drowned at the beach over the holidays in NSW alone. No sharks involved.

Please place responsibility for human life BACK in the hands of the individual & out of the hands of the irresponsible government. SHARK NETS ARE NOT THE ANSWER.

When we enter the water, we take a risk. If you are afraid of sharks, find an enclosed ocean bath. Or take up golf. Perhaps it would be good for humans to look into the eyes of a superior predator, we are so convinced of our supremacy. We are so coddled & sheltered from the wild. Isn’t this why the wild sea appeals more than a backyard pool in the first place?

Jadey boy, "attacked" by a shark. Still surfing and still anti-shark nets.

So far in the northern NSW trialed nets, 28% of 43 animals caught between December 8 and January 7 DIED. A great white was caught and released, yet a bull shark & four great hammerheads perished in the nets. Is this a victory? Dolphins are normally protected under state law, yet the state net killed one of the smartest creatures on our planet. How is this just?

The Report lists five turtles caught in the trial period, one Green Turtle died on the net.

Data in the report showed that while nets were in the water for 30 days at all five northern NSW beaches, the only net that was checked more than 32 times in the same period was at Main Beach, Evans Head. DPI (Department of Primary Industries) contractors checked the net at Evans Head an average of 1.5 times per day, despite the report stating that nets were "generally" checked twice daily. Checked once a day at best. Imagine the predators that will be attracted to these areas with the carcasses of caught creatures helplessly writhing.

What's more, nets do not stretch across an entire beach. Instead, they are typically 150-200 metres long and six metres high, sitting in 10-12 metres or deeper waters. Creatures can swim around, over or under them. The stretch of coast is around 50 kilometres, with five of these nets placed within 500 meters of the shore. The decision to introduce nets was “largely political and not necessarily based on science," says Professor Hart of Macquarie University.

WE DEMAND science. WE DEMAND environmental consideration. WE DEMAND the government redirect these millions of dollars towards NON-LETHAL methods. Such as shark spotting and bather protection efforts.

11,417 Sharks are killed by humans per HOUR. click to view the FULL infographic. — 11,417 Sharks are killed by humans per HOUR. click to view the FULL infographic.

HUMANS are 100% more dangerous to sharks, even if you don’t eat shark fin, the amount of humans killing sharks are enough to make you sympathetic to these ancient predators. (An infographic states sharks killed 12 people, but humans kill that many sharks every four SECONDS. Adding up to approximately 100 million sharks annually.)

SHARE THE PETITION: http://www.tamarasmith.com.au/stop_shark_nets

NO SHARK NETS