{"source_attribution":["NSW DPI Shark Meshing (Bather Protection) Program Annual Performance Reports - data.nsw.gov.au (CC-BY 4.0)","Queensland Department of Agriculture & Fisheries - Shark Control Program annual reports (publicly tabled)","Humane Society International - Shark Net Bycatch Audit reports","Action for Dolphins legal review of NSW SMP catches (2009-2023)","Sea Shepherd Australia annual shark cull monitoring"],"dataset_notes":"Bycatch totals are by-program annual catch numbers. 'Bycatch' here = any non-target species. Even target sharks include endangered species (great white, grey nurse) that should not be lethally controlled.","last_full_sync":"2026-05-24","nsw_shark_meshing_program_smp":{"established":1937,"beaches_covered":51,"nets_in_water_seasonally":"Sep-Apr (8 months/year)","season_2022_23":{"total_animals_caught":376,"target_sharks":51,"target_sharks_pct":13.6,"non_target_marine_bycatch":325,"non_target_bycatch_pct":86.4,"released_alive":122,"killed":254,"kill_rate_pct":67.6,"threatened_species_caught":64,"breakdown_non_target":{"rays_and_skates":132,"non_target_sharks_inc_grey_nurse_critically_endangered":71,"marine_turtles_six_species_all_threatened":28,"dolphins":4,"whales_incl_humpback_calves":1,"fin_fish_other":89}},"season_2021_22":{"total":360,"target_sharks":41,"killed_total":240},"season_2020_21":{"total":376,"target_sharks":42,"killed_total":251},"cumulative_1937_2023_estimate":{"total_animals_caught":16400,"target_sharks":4800,"non_target_bycatch":11600,"threatened_species_killed_total":2100}},"queensland_shark_control_program_scp":{"established":1962,"beaches_covered":86,"method":"Drumlines + shark nets (368 drumlines + 27 nets)","season_2022_23":{"target_sharks_caught":686,"non_target_marine_bycatch":263,"total_caught":949,"kill_rate_pct":78},"cumulative_1962_2023_estimate":{"total_animals_caught":87000,"target_sharks":53000,"non_target_bycatch":34000,"marine_mammals_killed":1800,"marine_turtles_killed":5400,"rays_killed":18000,"non_target_sharks_killed":7800}},"combined_annual_program_cost_aud":20500000,"combined_annual_program_cost_breakdown":{"nsw_smp_2024":2200000,"qld_scp_2024":12800000,"wa_drumline_trials_inc":5500000},"iconic_threatened_species_caught_smp_scp":[{"species":"Grey nurse shark (Carcharias taurus)","iucn":"Critically Endangered (east coast pop.)","10yr_caught":142},{"species":"Great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias)","iucn":"Vulnerable","10yr_caught":84},{"species":"Scalloped hammerhead (Sphyrna lewini)","iucn":"Critically Endangered","10yr_caught":96},{"species":"Loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta)","iucn":"Endangered","10yr_caught":187},{"species":"Green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas)","iucn":"Endangered","10yr_caught":156},{"species":"Hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata)","iucn":"Critically Endangered","10yr_caught":41},{"species":"Humpback whale (calves, Megaptera novaeangliae)","iucn":"Recovering","10yr_entanglements":16},{"species":"Common dolphin (Delphinus delphis)","iucn":"Least Concern but locally declining","10yr_caught":38},{"species":"Bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus)","iucn":"Least Concern","10yr_caught":27},{"species":"Dugong (Dugong dugon)","iucn":"Vulnerable","10yr_caught":8},{"species":"Manta ray (Mobula alfredi)","iucn":"Vulnerable","10yr_caught":22}],"scientific_consensus_on_effectiveness":{"summary":"Multiple peer-reviewed studies (Cliff & Dudley 2011; Curtis et al. 2012; Gibbs & Warren 2014; Meeuwig & Ferreira 2014; McPhee 2014) conclude that shark nets do NOT statistically reduce attack risk on bathers, while imposing significant non-target mortality. They function as a 'fishery' removing local shark populations rather than a barrier.","alternatives_with_evidence_base":["Personal electronic deterrents (Shark Shield/Ocean Guardian) — peer-reviewed Huveneers et al. 2018 - 60-100% deterrence","Shark Spotters programme (Cape Town, ZA) — 14 years operational, near-zero fatalities since deployment","SMART drumlines with real-time SMS alert + tag-and-release — NSW DPI 2017-2024 trial","Eco-barriers / Shark-Safe Barrier (visual + magnetic) — Stellenbosch University 2020-2024 trial","SharkFree PEMF mesh nodes (Apeiron / Animalis aRK) — 2024 Ryan et al. demonstrated 87% bull shark deterrence at 1Hz pulse"]},"sharkfree_mesh_node_vs_shark_net":{"metric_table":[{"metric":"Kills target sharks","shark_net":"Yes - 78% mortality","sharkfree_mesh":"No - deters only"},{"metric":"Kills non-target marine life","shark_net":"Yes - 86% of catch","sharkfree_mesh":"No - zero entanglement"},{"metric":"Effective in all seasons","shark_net":"Removed in winter (Apr-Sep)","sharkfree_mesh":"Year-round"},{"metric":"Provides scientific data","shark_net":"Catch logs only","sharkfree_mesh":"Continuous ocean + species data feed"},{"metric":"Annual cost per km of coast","shark_net":"$80,000 - $250,000","sharkfree_mesh":"$18,000 - $45,000 (after capex)"},{"metric":"Community ownership model","shark_net":"Government-run, opaque","sharkfree_mesh":"Community DAO, on-chain treasury"},{"metric":"Survives in storm / cyclone","shark_net":"Often destroyed/lost","sharkfree_mesh":"Submersible base, retrievable"},{"metric":"Recyclable / end-of-life","shark_net":"Polyethylene mesh = ghost gear hazard","sharkfree_mesh":"Modular metal + electronics; recyclable"},{"metric":"Peer-reviewed evidence base","shark_net":"Disproven for deterrence (multiple studies)","sharkfree_mesh":"Ryan et al. 2024 + Kalmijn 1971 electroreception"},{"metric":"Data shared with universities","shark_net":"Quarterly reports only","sharkfree_mesh":"Open API, real-time, DID-sovereign"}]}}