NSW Shark Meshing (Bather Protection) Program

⁠⁠⁠The NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI), a division within NSW Trade & Investment, manages the NSW Shark Meshing (Bather Protection) Program. The program is a public safety measure introduced in 1937 to reduce the risk of shark attack at the State’s most popular public bathing beaches.

Under the current program, there are 51 beaches between Wollongong and Newcastle that are netted by contractors using specially designed meshing nets to reduce the chances of shark encounters. The nets are ‘sunk nets’, set below the surface in about 10 to 12 metres of water, within 500 metres of the shore. The nets are fitted with acoustic warning devices to alert dolphins and whales.

The program is split into seven regions:

* Hunter
* Central Coast North
* Central Coast South
* Sydney North
* Sydney Central
* Sydney South
* Illawarra.

The contract period is for three years, with 2 x 1 year options.

The season is currently eight months long and begins on 1 September each year,  ending on 30 April the following year. Should, as a result of the review of the Joint Management Agreement,  the length of the Season be shortened to seven months, this change will be automatically incorporated into the Contract. To facilitate this possible change in the future, in your tender response (Part B) you are to provide the cost of delivering the Services for both an eight month and a seven month Season.

Contractors are required to:

* Set, run and haul the nets on 104 occasions across the season
* Remove and dispose of catch, ensuring live marine animals are released without harm.
* carry observers
* Use technology to track the movements of the vessels being used.
* Deliver reports of their activities and
* Provide the Department with assistance scientific and research programs

Contractors must be compliant with the National Standards for Domestic Commercial Vessels and Crewing Competencies, fish identification, NSW and Commonwealth WHS law and codes of practice as well as having suitable experience in the marine environment.