Government Fails Grey Nurse Sharks Again - 6 February 2006

Last week’s acquittal of a spear-fisher who killed a critically endangered Grey Nurse Shark again highlights the need for real action, not just window dressing, by the Government to save the species from extinction, said Greens MLC Ian Cohen today.

“Grey Nurse Sharks are docile and harmless to humans. The finding that the spear fisherman acted in self-defence shows that the current regime of protection for the shark is inadequate. Sanctuary zones of at least 1,500 metres around Grey Nurse Shark key habitat areas would be far more effective in the race to save the species. Scientists have been recommending this measure for some time, but it is falling on deaf ears in the NSW Government.

“Instead of implementing systems that could actually offer the Grey Nurse a chance of survival, the Government continues to concentrate on window dressing such as artificial breeding programs. I have been urging the Minister for years now put in place sanctuary zones and to remove shark nets from beaches, but the message is clearly not getting through.

“There are 16 key Grey Nurse Shark habitats along the NSW coast. Implementing sanctuary zones for these areas would mean banning fishing in less that 1% of NSW marine waters. The alternative is that the Grey Nurse could be extinct within a generation. The tragedy is that this Government is witnessing the decline of an apex predator species, an icon of east coast waters, and it opts to play around the edges, fearful of losing recreational fishing votes next year” Mr Cohen said.