World's best gather for shark summit

Minister for Primary Industries, Lands and Water Niall Blair has announced a suite of technologies that have been shortlisted for consideration by marine scientists and experts attending the NSW Government’s Shark Summit in Sydney today (September 29).

The summit is being held at Taronga Zoo with more than 70 shark experts from around the world and Australia in attendance, including South Africa and Hawaii, as well as representatives from Western Australia and Queensland.

The Shark Summit will consider an independent review of existing and emerging technologies, commissioned by the Department of Primary Industries, to advise the NSW Government on which ones should be included in trials this summer.

"Making our beaches safer is a top priority for the NSW Government... that’s why we are leaving no stone unturned to make sure we look at new and innovative ways to protect our beaches," Mr Blair said.

"The world’s best scientists will be in Sydney this week to discuss a number of new technologies to be trialed in NSW waters, which will inform advice to the NSW Government on additional measures."

An independent review into shark deterrent technologies has identified a number of options to be discussed at the summit for potential trials in NSW waters, including:
>> Electric deterrent barriers - Aquatek technology
>> Physical and visual barriers - Eco Shark barriers, Bionic barriers and Aquarius barriers Sonar technologies - Cleverbuoy detection
>> Satellite and acoustic technology - tagging and real time tracking of tagged sharks.

While the review determined the short-listed technologies would not provide a single, simple solution that would encompass all types of beaches in NSW, it revealed that closer consideration should be given to integrating a range of emerging options to complement the NSW Government’s existing bather protection measures.

The independent reviewers will incorporate advice from the summit into its final report to the NSW Government.

Meanwhile, an increase in shark numbers, encounters and attacks continues to strike fear in NSW North Coast communities and it's affecting a range of boating, tourism, dive and on-water businesses and activities in the region.