Amid ongoing debates on the changes to the NSW shark policy, experts are calling on the NSW government to focus on drowning prevention, over the threat of sharks.

The state’s premier, Chris Minns, confirmed the government will install shark nets across 51 beaches from Newcastle to Wollongong. But experts warn dangerous water conditions pose a significantly larger threat to ocean swimmers over shark attacks.  

From January to March this year, 28 people have drowned on New South Wales beaches, marking this summer the deadliest in the state’s history. A total of 54 people have drowned on Australian coastlines this year.

Image: image: Wikimedia Commons – Kgbo

Produced By: Aryana Mohmood

Featured In Story: Dr Amy Peden – Senior Research Fellow at the School of Population Health at University of NSW and the Co-Founder of the UNSW Beach Safety Research Group, and

First aired on The Wire, Thursday 31 August 2023