March 1- 31, 2026: Issue 652

 

NSW Parliamentary Shark Inquiry Mooted

Pittwater beaches have been empty this Summer and early Autumn. Avalon Beach, Saturday March 14 2026 - a warm day

During Question Time on 26 March 2026 the MP for Pittwater addressed a query to the NSW Premier the Hon. Chris Minns on Shark Management brought up the possibility of an Inquiry into sharks. The last of these was held in 2016, Chair: Melinda Pavey, MP,  with the report tabled in June of that year listing 13 Recommendations - with No 4:

'The Committee recommends that the NSW Government consider augmentation of the Observation Tower Grant Program (including but not limited to the provision of extra funding) as a means of achieving better shark and water safety.'  being 'Supported'.

The then Baird Government response was:

'The Observation Tower Grant Program provides grants to councils and community organisations for new observation towers on beaches or beach headlands for effective shark spotting. Observation equipment, emergency evacuation alarms and communication systems can also be funded under the program.

The Observation Tower Grant Program commenced in 2011 providing grants up to $30,000 each year. Since 2011, a total of 22 grants valued at $149,967 have been provided to councils, Surf Life Saving NSW and community organisations.

The 2016/17 Grant Program opened in November. The Program has been expanded to offer grant funding up to a total of $200,000.'

See; Management of Sharks in New South Wales Waters.

However, an expanded program incorprating scores of peoples and equipment under the Minns Government over the past months have escalated costs since then.

See: Sunday December 7 2025 announcement: Minns Government announces $2.5 million boost to summer beach safety with immediate extra shark surveillance drones

And February 1 2026 report: Pittwater MP Launches Survey Asking For Local Knowledge on Sharks: State Government Announces Further $4.2 million to Improve Shark Safety this Summer + How to reduce the risk of an encounter with a shark

Pittwater MP Ms Scruby stated on Thursday, March 26: 

My question is directed to the Premier. We have a shark problem. Surfers on the northern beaches are working together tracking their shark encounters in a spreadsheet, and it is more than they have experienced before. 

With increased shark activity impacting our surfing way of life and local businesses, and with surf lifesaving drones and jet skis ending surveillance next weekend, is the Government willing to scale the Surfing NSW community-led surveillance programs to protect surfers all year round, year on year, and ensure risk to human life is considered in fisheries management?

Premier Minns replied he will look into it, stating:

'We recently funded the request from Surfing NSW for drone surveillance, but that was only during surfing competitions or boardrider events. 

I do not want to give the impression that the same will apply to the majority of people who surf on the weekend or before work. I will have to investigate what their ask is as well as the drone surveillance technology and what it means to increase the brilliance of AI to detect sharks and alert surfers. 

That is an innovative way of looking at the technology and applying it to our coastline. 

I realise it has been a difficult Summer for businesses and the community but particularly for those who were savagely mauled or who lost a loved one because of a shark.

There is a big difference between great whites and bull sharks. Great whites are protected and use the entire Pacific Ocean, so it is difficult to have a containment strategy for them. Bull sharks are in a different category. They are not protected, and use our estuaries and waterways. 

We are open to working with the member for Pittwater, boardrider and surf lifesaving clubs to find common-sense measures to monitor that animal at beaches. 

It is a difficult issue but there are opportunities to think about and apply emerging technology to beachside suburbs. 

One of our committees may inquire into this matter. I think that would be a good idea. 

Also, the Minister has reminded me that there was a recent increase in funding for drones to surf lifesaving and boardrider clubs and we will investigate opportunities to expand that in the future.'

There have been calls for a shark cull/kill locally and just as many stating their opposition to this proposal as 'sharks are a vital part of the marine ecosystem'.

Others have wanted to add in to the 'poo attraction' debate and baitfish runoff draw-in that comes after storms - and not going into the water for 72 hour after these, the three recent attacks in Sydney came right after a record-breaking downpour in Sydney - that modifying the dunes and coastline has also contributed. 

One local stated: 
'Here 30 to 40 years ago the sand banks on many beaches were shallow. Now many beaches are very steep and deep just offshore. Perfect for schools of fish and the predators following them, the sharks.'

Climate change causing warmer waters are also bringing sharks like tiger and bull sharks further south for longer periods of time, leading to more shark encounters, year round.

Valerie Taylor AM, 90, who spent a large part of her life in the water with sharks and was bitten several times, says sharks don't bite humans because they want to kill them.

"We are not their natural prey," she told 9news.com.au in January this year

"When you get bitten, it's because they lack hands, they can't feel you, so they're feeling with their teeth."

(Ms Taylor also filmed the real great white shark sequences for Jaws with her late husband Ron Taylor. Both regretted that the film inspired such hatred and fear of sharks.)

Every encounter sparks calls for shark culls, or for the fish responsible to be hunted down and killed.

Ms Taylor said:
"I don't know why they say, 'Let's kill all the sharks,'" she said. "You're never going to be able to do that, and they are very important in the ocean."

Wiping out sharks, or even just dramatically reducing numbers, would devastate Australia's marine ecosystems, already under pressure from the prolonged 'underwater bushfires' now occurring. 

More in last week's report: MP for Pittwater's Shark Survey:   March 2026 Update

March 2026 Shark Report records

The list is compiled with the time of day these were recorded from earliest (morning) to evening (dusk) and from north to south.

Maroubra had 14 official reports of bull sharks during the same month, Cronulla 4, Bondi 4, and Wattamolla 1.

Official Shark Report: NSW - NORTH NARRABEEN. 09:31, 01 Mar 26, Beach Closure → https://www.dorsalwatch.com/r/49335

Official Shark Report: NSW  - PALM BEACH. 09:36, 01 Mar 26, Beach Closure → https://www.dorsalwatch.com/r/49336

Official Shark Report: NSW - NORTH NARRABEEN. 10:13, 03 Mar 26, Bull Shark, Receiver Tag → https://www.dorsalwatch.com/r/49383

Official Shark Report: NSW - COLLAROY. 13:49, 04 Mar 26, Beach Closure → https://www.dorsalwatch.com/r/49415

Official Shark Report: NSW - TUGGERAH (NORTH ENTRANCE). 17:37, 04 Mar 26, 1.42m, Tiger, Tag and Release → https://www.dorsalwatch.com/r/49420
Public Shark Report: NSW - MANLY. 08:03, 06 Mar 26, Unknown, Sighting from shore → https://www.dorsalwatch.com/r/49454

Official Shark Report: NSW - NORTH NARRABEEN. 09:37, 07 Mar 26, Beach Closure → https://www.dorsalwatch.com/r/49474

Official Shark Report: NSW - PALM BEACH. 12:10, 07 Mar 26, Bull Shark, Receiver Tag → https://www.dorsalwatch.com/r/49478

Public Shark Report: NSW - NEAR MANLY BEACH. 08:09, 11 Mar 26, 3m, Bull, Water Evacuated → https://www.dorsalwatch.com/r/49547

Official Shark Report: NSW - COLLAROY. 12:17, 11 Mar 26, Unknown, Water Evacuated → https://www.dorsalwatch.com/r/49557

Official Shark Report: NSW - PALM BEACH. 00:47, 12 Mar 26, Bull Shark, Receiver Tag → https://www.dorsalwatch.com/r/49574

Official Shark Report: NSW - NEWPORT BEACH. 12:17, 12 Mar 26, Bull Shark, Water Evacuated → https://www.dorsalwatch.com/r/49580

Official Shark Report: NSW - DEE WHY. 14:19, 14 Mar 26, Beach Closure → https://www.dorsalwatch.com/r/49606

Official Shark Report: NSW - MANLY. 07:23, 16 Mar 26, Water Evacuated → https://www.dorsalwatch.com/r/49649

Official Shark Report: NSW - WARRIEWOOD. 09:57, 17 Mar 26, Beach Closure → https://www.dorsalwatch.com/r/49667

Official Shark Report: NSW - DEE WHY. 11:22, 17 Mar 26, Bull Shark, Water Evacuated → https://www.dorsalwatch.com/r/49669

Official Shark Report: NSW - BILGOLA BEACH. 12:24, 17 Mar 26, Bull Shark, Beach Closure → https://www.dorsalwatch.com/r/49673

Official Shark Report: NSW - BILGOLA BEACH. 14:16, 17 Mar 26, Beach Closure → https://www.dorsalwatch.com/r/49672

Official Shark Report: NSW - NORTH NARRABEEN. 14:15, 18 Mar 26, Bull Shark, Receiver Tag → https://www.dorsalwatch.com/r/49698

Public Shark Report: NSW - WHALE BEACH. 07:49, 19 Mar 26, 1m, Bull, Sighting from water → https://www.dorsalwatch.com/r/49720

Public Shark Report: NSW - WARRIEWOOD. 18:30, 19 Mar 26, 3m, Unknown, Sighting from shore → https://www.dorsalwatch.com/r/49732

Official Shark Report: NSW - NORTH STEYNE. 09:13, 20 Mar 26, Bull Shark, Water Evacuated → https://www.dorsalwatch.com/r/49739

Official Shark Report: NSW - QUEENSCLIFF. 11:01, 20 Mar 26, Bull Shark, Water Evacuated → https://www.dorsalwatch.com/r/49742

Official Shark Report: NSW - MANLY. 11:01, 20 Mar 26, Bull Shark, Water Evacuated → https://www.dorsalwatch.com/r/49741

Public Shark Report: NSW - LITTLE AVALON. 10:00, 21 Mar 26, Bump → https://www.dorsalwatch.com/r/49774 a high-volume sighting at Avalon Beach, with a reference to "17" figure, following a surfer being 'bumped' by a shark at Little Avalon near the southern headland. Anecdotal reports to the news service by local surfers stated there was a high volume of bull sharks, not just the one, seen. 

A pod of 20 to 30 dolphins in the vicinity was filmed by a local at North Avalon the next day March 22, including a lot of bub dolphins swimming close alongside their mums. 

The drone report, 10 minutes later on March 21, was:

Official Shark Report: NSW - AVALON BEACH. 10:12, 21 Mar 26, Unknown, Water Evacuated → https://www.dorsalwatch.com/r/49763

Official Shark Report: NSW - NORTH NARRABEEN. 10:33, 21 Mar 26, Unknown, Drone → https://www.dorsalwatch.com/r/49764

Official Shark Report: NSW - BUNGAN. 14:06, 21 Mar 26, Unknown, Water Evacuated → https://www.dorsalwatch.com/r/49771

Official Shark Report: NSW - PALM BEACH. 08:43, 22 Mar 26, Water Evacuated → https://www.dorsalwatch.com/r/49792

Official Shark Report: NSW - COLLAROY. 11:30, 22 Mar 26, Drone → https://www.dorsalwatch.com/r/49797

Official Shark Report: NSW - DEE WHY. 11:30, 22 Mar 26, Water Evacuated → https://www.dorsalwatch.com/r/49798

Official Shark Report: NSW - NORTH CURL CURL. 11:48, 22 Mar 26, Water Evacuated → https://www.dorsalwatch.com/r/49800

Official Shark Report: NSW - SOUTH CURL CURL. 11:48, 22 Mar 26, Water Evacuated → https://www.dorsalwatch.com/r/49799

Official Shark Report: NSW - COLLAROY. 14:29, 22 Mar 26, Bull Shark, SLS Lifesavers → https://www.dorsalwatch.com/r/49806

Official Shark Report: NSW - NEWPORT BEACH. 15:46, 22 Mar 26, Water Evacuated → https://www.dorsalwatch.com/r/49811

Official Shark Report: NSW - NORTH NARRABEEN. 10:25, 23 Mar 26, Bull Shark, Receiver Tag → https://www.dorsalwatch.com/r/49824

Official Shark Report: NSW - BILGOLA BEACH. 10:35, 23 Mar 26, Bull Shark, Beach Closure → https://www.dorsalwatch.com/r/49829

Official Shark Report: SLSNSW advise Bull Shark observed at AVALON Beach, by SLS Drone 23 Mar 26, at 10:36 am, Beach Closure → https://www.dorsalwatch.com/r/49828

Official Shark Report: NSW - NEWPORT BEACH. 10:36, 23 Mar 26, Bull Shark, Beach Closure → https://www.dorsalwatch.com/r/49827

Official Shark Report: NSW - NORTH CURL CURL. 10:37, 23 Mar 26, Beach Closure → https://www.dorsalwatch.com/r/49826

Official Shark Report: NSW - BILGOLA BEACH. 09:33, 24 Mar 26, Beach Closure → https://www.dorsalwatch.com/r/49842

Official Shark Report: NSW - NEWPORT BEACH. 09:48, 24 Mar 26, Water Evacuated → https://www.dorsalwatch.com/r/49843

Official Shark Report: NSW - COLLAROY. 10:26, 24 Mar 26, Bull Shark, Beach Closure → https://www.dorsalwatch.com/r/49845

Official Shark Report: NSW - DEE WHY. 10:24, 24 Mar 26, Water Evacuated → https://www.dorsalwatch.com/r/49844

Official Shark Report: NSW - BILGOLA BEACH. 09:21, 25 Mar 26, Beach Closure → https://www.dorsalwatch.com/r/49863

Official Shark Report: NSW - NEWPORT BEACH. 15:02, 25 Mar 26, Water Evacuated → https://www.dorsalwatch.com/r/49874

Official Shark Report: NSW - SYDNEY - COLLAROY. 12:06, 25 Mar 26, Water Evacuated → https://www.dorsalwatch.com/r/49868

Official Shark Report: NSW - SYDNEY - DEE WHY. 12:05, 25 Mar 26, Drone → https://www.dorsalwatch.com/r/49869

Public Shark Report: NSW - SYDNEY - NORTH STEYNE. 08:49, 27 Mar 26, Unknown, Sighting from water → https://www.dorsalwatch.com/r/49899

Shark Kit at North Av.

February 1 2026: 
Hi Avalon community 
At Hang 10 Distillery, and as surfers, the ocean is a big part of our lives. We’re incredibly lucky to call this place home, with North Av as our local break. It’s a place we love and a community we care deeply about.

The recent shark incidents over the past weeks, and of course sadly last year, have felt close to home for many of us. Sharing the ocean comes with risks and responsibilities, and it’s something a lot of people have been holding in mind lately.

It’s also worth sharing that the decision to order a shark bite emergency kit was made before the recent incidents, it arrived just days after everything unfolded. The timing reinforced why having something practical in place can matter.

Today, we installed a shark bite emergency kit from @communitysbk at North Av, donated by Hang 10 Distillery, as a small, practical step to support the local surf community if an emergency were ever to occur.

The kit is located along the sand path on the right side of the North Av carpark when facing the ocean. We sincerely hope it never needs to be used, but it’s there if it is.


This is just one small part of a much bigger conversation, and one we’re continuing to learn more about. For now, we wanted to quietly do something practical for our local break. We hope more and more beaches get shark bite kits installed too.

Wishing everyone safe sessions and good waves.

Hang 10 Distillery,
Unit 48/5 Ponderosa Parade, Warriewood

February 2020 Storms-Rains

Pittwater Online contacted the department of Primary Industries (DPI) in relation to the shark on Station Beach - found Saturday February 8th, 2020.

"NSWDPI fisheries officers were advised of one shark washed up on Palm Beach on Saturday." a NSWDPI Spokesperson said.

"The shark is a 2.9m female bull shark. The cause of death is unknown.  A necropsy will be done at a later date to try and determine the possible cause of death." the NSWDPI Spokesperson stated.

Pittwater Online requested the results of that necropsy be forwarded when the report is available. 
The request was ignored.


Emilio and Selena with the shark. Photo supplied

More Bull Sharks Seen In Pittwater This Morning: Saturday February 15th, 2020

Pittwater residents might like to think twice about taking a dip at Clareville or off boats at this time. Apparently a paddle boarder at Paradise Beach was harassed by 4 Bull Sharks this morning. This report comes from a source we trust.

A dead Goat on Long Reef Beach, two cows on Patonga Beach with bite marks and a dead Bull Shark on Station Beach suggests that everything up the river has flushed out to Pittwater and Broken Bay.