Sharks found bitten in half close to popular Aussie beaches: 'Dangerous consequences'

Finding a large shark bitten in half isn’t something most people expect to find. But new images released under freedom of information show contractors have frequently collected them in waters close to popular beaches along the NSW coast.

Among the dead are a juvenile great white shark, a decapitated hammerhead, and a ray. All fell victim to the state government’s controversial shark net program, and that’s a concern for conservationist Andre Borell.

The images were taken by government contractors to help document the impact of the nets and requested by Borell’s Envoy Foundation and campaigners from Action for Dolphins. Large bite marks can be seen in the flesh of many sharks, and Borell thinks it's clear larger predators have attacked them after they’ve become entangled.

“Not only is the shark net program a placebo at best in terms of safety it provides, but it actually could be having some really dangerous unintended consequences,” Borell told Yahoo News. “It’s catching animals which then lie dead, dying, and decaying in the shark nets, and that is obviously a dinner bell for bigger sharks."

Related: Aussie fisherman brought to tears after shock catch in shark net

A decapitated hammerhead shark was discovered by contractors in one of the NSW Government’s shark nets. Source: via Action for Dolphins/Envoy Foundation

In response, the NSW Department of Primary Industries, which regulates the state’s shark controls, claimed overseas studies show shark mitigation gear does not attract sharks closer to shore.

“The nets, and our SMART drumlines, are there to intercept target sharks as they move along and onto our ocean beaches, thereby reducing the chances of interactions with beachgoers,” it said in a statement.

Nets can lie unchecked for 72 hours between September and January, and up to 48 hours in February and March. This decade they’ve entangled and drowned dolphins, endangered sea turtles and grey nurse sharks. Data provided by the department indicates a trend towards fewer animals dying, but most still don’t survive.

“In recent years, there has been a steady increase in the number of animals released alive from the nets, from approximately 27 per cent to 42 per cent,” it said.

Multiple images showed sharks and rays had been predated once caught in nets. Source: via Action for Dolphins/Envoy Foundation

The department maintains its nets are "protecting swimmers at some of NSW’s most popular beaches", and said new measures appear to be mitigating their deadly impact on Australia’s marine life.

“We are also using drone surveillance to inspect the nets and increased frequency of net inspections by the contractors to free any non-target species,” it said.

“In addition, we are trialling placing lights on nets to deter turtles and prevent their entanglement. These changes to the shark meshing program are the biggest changes any government has made in nearly 40 years and were made in direct response to those concerns about marine life.”

Large bites were observed in some animals. Source: via Action for Dolphins/Envoy Foundation

While the small 6-metre x 150-metre nets were designed last century to keep sharks away from beaches, they regularly fail to catch sharks considered dangerous to humans. During the 2023/24 meshing season government data shows just 15 of the 255 marine animals caught in nets were targeted species — great whites, tigers, and bull sharks.

Related: �‹‍♂️ Bondi Beach on the cusp of major change after unanimous shark net vote

Over the summer, councils across the greater Sydney region have voted to have nets removed from their beaches. This was in response to an undertaking by the NSW Government to consult with councils around the state about the use of shark mitigation devices.

Technology has improved since 1937 when shark nets were first introduced to NSW beaches, and critics including Humane World for Animals (formerly Humane Society International), Australian Marine Conservation Society, and Sea Shepherd maintain alternatives like drones are more effective at keeping swimmers safe.

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