Humane Society International (HSI)

The Humane Society International has repeated its call for the shark nets on NSW's coast to be removed following the death of a critically endangered grey nurse shark in the nets off Bondi Beach.

A recent census of critically endangered east coast population of the grey nurse shark found that whilst numbers appear to be stable, the grey nurse shark remains on a knife-edge, with every single individual vital for the future of this species.

"Sydney's shark nets pose an unacceptable risk to our marine life," said Alexia Wellbelove of HSI.  "The death of harmless sharks, such as the critically endangered grey nurse, in shark nets threatens all other conservation efforts underway to save this species and we are therefore calling for the shark nets to be removed."

"Effort must be made to urgently address and reduce the continued pressure on the grey nurse shark from fishing and capture in shark nets, the key risks to the species. Better identification and protection of the grey nurse shark's critical habitat - the species feeding and breeding areas - is also vital."