SYDNEY (March 11, 2026)—Humane World for Animals Australia's marine ecologist, Lawrence Chlebeck is warning against rising calls for a cull of bull sharks, urging Sydneysiders to instead call on their local MPs and relevant ministers to continue investing in technology that will actually keep swimmers safe.
As an ecologist, field biologist and environmental consultant, Mr Chlebeck's work has focused extensively on examining the efficacy of shark control and culling programs, including those of the NSW and QLD Governments.
"Sydneysiders need to know that shark culling won't have the effect they hope it will," said Mr Chlebeck. "Shark culling has been taking place in NSW with shark nets since 1937 and in QLD with nets and drumlines since 1962 but bites have been on the rise. Culling was also tried and tested in Hawaii, and the results were clear: there was no reduction in shark bites following a cull and, in some cases, the number of incidents actually increased.
"Culling doesn't reduce the risk of shark bite for two key reasons. The kinds of sharks targeted by culling are highly migratory and move across distances so vast that any sharks culled near Sydney would just be replaced by others moving through the area. Think of the car park at Bondi beach on a busy summer day. Culling sharks is like towing cars from the car park and thinking that nobody else is going to come and take the free spots.
"Secondly, baiting and killing sharks and other wildlife near beaches is a great way to attract other sharks nearer to shore. This is exactly what shark nets, drumlines and shark fishing do—and it's counterproductive for public safety.
"If we really want to see a reduction in shark bite risk in Sydney, the key is to embrace the technology that we have right in front of us. Drones and barrier nets like those on beaches within Sydney Harbour have been proven to be vastly more effective than shark nets and drum lines and the data supports that. Barrier nets at Harbour beaches are very effective at excluding sharks from swimming areas.
"Education is also critical. Avoiding swimming after heavy rain when waters are murky or when bait fish are active is one of the best ways to lessen the risk of any shark interactions.
"The NSW Government has made great progress on this issue by implementing measures like drones, and we've seen good outcomes from that already. With the public's support to invest further in this non-lethal approach, we'll see safer beaches for Sydney.
"We've wasted decades and millions of dollars on ineffective shark culling nets at our ocean beaches. Let's not make another mistake in our approach and risk any more lives. It's time to listen to the science and move toward non-lethal management."
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Together, we tackle the root causes of animal cruelty and suffering to create permanent change. With millions of supporters and work happening in over 50 countries, Humane World for Animals—formerly called Humane Society International—addresses the most deeply entrenched forms of animal cruelty and suffering. As the leading voice in the animal protection space, we work to end the cruelest practices, care for animals in crisis and build a stronger animal protection movement. Driving toward the greatest global impact, we aim to achieve the vision behind our name: a more humane world. humaneworld.org
