NSW Fisheries is failing in its responsibility to protect the grey nurse shark. A long history of spearfishing, line fishing and meshing of Sydney’s beaches is causing the extinction of one of Australia’s most well known marine species. For more than 30 years, NSW Fisheries has known that the long-term survival of the grey nurse shark is under threat, yet have done little to help its survival.

In the early 80’s the grey nurse shark was listed as a protected species. This protection, however, was in name only and the population continued to decline.

In 2000, the grey nurse shark was listed as ‘endangered’ and still NSW Fisheries has done little to provide any real protection.

NPA believes that the only way to ensure the survival of the grey nurse shark is to create marine sanctuaries at their gathering sites and to close down Sydney antiquated beach meshing program which has not only proven to be ineffective but deadly.

Large marine sanctuaries along our coast will not only provide safe havens for species like the grey nurse shark – as Bill Galadstone's (2001) study at the Bouddi National Park Marine Extension has shown – they will also provide protection for many of the other marine creatures that make the NSW coast their home.

As we head into the year 2002, the grey nurse shark's future is still uncertain.

NSW Fisheries has now promised to prepare a recovery plan but even now its release appears to be caught up in the web of bureaucracy.

NSW Fisheries must look closely at it obligations under the Fisheries Management Act 1994 and recognise that its responsibility lies in the protection of marine species.

NPA calls on NSW Fisheries to immediately release a Recovery Plan that will guarantee the full protection of the grey nurse shark from line fishing and beach meshing and halt its path to extinction.