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14 Dolphins And 11 Green Turtles Were Killed In NSW Shark Nets Last Year

Report reveals that 748 marine animals were caught in the shark nets.
Green turtles were among the 748 marine life caught in the shark nets .
GREG WOOD via Getty Images
Green turtles were among the 748 marine life caught in the shark nets .

Fourteen dolphins and 11 green turtles were found dead in shark nets along the New South Wales coast during the last financial year, the latest report on the NSW shark netting program reveals.

The report, released by the NSW Government's Department of Primary Industries, reveals 90 protected or threatened species were caught -- or hit the netting -- between 2015 and 2016.

Nine bottlenose dolphins, four common dolphins and an unidentified dolphin were among threatened or protected marine life caught in the nets, which included 31 white sharks, 19 greynurse sharks, 13 green turtles, five hawksbill turtles, four loggerhead turtles, two leatherback sea turtles and one hammerhead shark.

Of the 748 marine life caught in the nets, 133 were targeted sharks and 615 were non-targeted marine life (including 145 non-targeted sharks).

Fifty one percent of marine life caught in the nets were released alive, however the deaths of common dolphins and hawkswill turtles will be reviewed.

Fourteen dolphins were killed in the shark nets lining the New South Wales coastline during the 2015-16 financial year.
Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
Fourteen dolphins were killed in the shark nets lining the New South Wales coastline during the 2015-16 financial year.

Fifty-one beaches along Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong are covered by The Shark Meshing (Bather Protection) Program.

The annual performance report shows only shark attack occurred at a netted beach -- in Cronulla, on the NSW South Coast -- which was not fatal. There were 11 shark attacks in New South Wales over the 2015-16 financial year all of which were not fatal.

Here is a breakdown of the targeted sharks caught by netting:

31 White Sharks (10 released alive)

25 Dusky Whalers (four released alive)

24 Shortfin Makos (two released alive)

14 Spinner Sharks (two released alive)

13 Common Blacktip Sharks (two released alive)

9 Broadnose Sevengill Sharks

7 Bronze Whalers (two released alive)

Four Bull Sharks (three released alive)

Four Silky Sharks

One Tiger Shark (released alive)

One unidentified shark (decomposition prevented identification)

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