NSW dramatically increases quota on shark fishing after horror run of attacks

“It shows that the truth is reaching the right people.”

Only two months ago, the NSW Minister for Agriculture, Tara Moriarty, told an interviewer, well, hell, there ain’t enough Great Whites out there. 

It was a wild overreach, I thought, made four days after a Sydney mum was mauled by a Great White in a flagged swimming area yards off Coogee beach, nine months after Mercury Psillaski was bitten in half by a Great White near Dee Why and four years since Simon Neillist was eaten alive by a Great White in front of a bank of phone cameras at Malabar.

That was then and this is now, as they say, and the same minister has now announced dramatically increase weekly limits for shark fishermen citing “sharks are having a significant impact on business operations through the predation on target fish species in the fishery.”

Re: Updated shark take and possession limits in the NSW Ocean Trap and Line fishery

Dear Fishing Business Owners and Nominated Fishers,

I am writing to advise you of updated shark take and possession limits for endorsement holders in the NSW Ocean Trap and Line (OTL) Fishery.

I am advised that Fishing Industry NSW have raised concerns that the take and possession limits for sharks unduly restrict operations and prevent an otherwise viable shark fishery to operate. It has also been raised that sharks are having a significant impact on business operations through the predation on target fish species in the fishery.

I have discussed these issues with the Department and encouraged it to consider what action could be taken to address these concerns without impacting the sustainability of the fishery or its social licence to operate.

I am pleased to advise that new arrangements will come into effect on Friday, 7 August 2026.

The NSW OTL Fishery manages shark catch through weekly take and possession limits and a notional annual Total Allowable Commercial Catch (TACC). These arrangements support the sustainable and economically viable harvest of sharks, including sharks taken as a target species or as byproduct while fishing for other species.

These arrangements apply to commercial fishers operating under the following endorsements:

• Line fishing western zone endorsement
• Line fishing eastern zone endorsement
• Demersal fish trap endorsement

The fishing closure notification and possession limit order, including the list of shark species covered, are included as Attachments A and B.

The following updated limits apply:

• A weekly catch limit of 2,000 kg whole weight, or 1,200 kg if any sharks are headed, gutted, or both.
• A possession limit of 2,000 kg whole weight, or 1,200 kg if any sharks are headed, gutted, or both, applies at any time, including when in, on or adjacent to waters, or when transporting or storing shark.
• The annual TACC for shark remains unchanged at 85.9 tonnes processed weight, with a 70 tonne trigger limit.

Newcastle shark hunter Joel Nancarrow, whose videos of big bulls and tigers being pulled out of the drink and being turned into interesting wall-mounted decorations thrill his myriad followers daily, was, understandably delighted by the news.

KEEP MAKING NOISE!!!!!!

The quotas for the commercial sector on sharks has finally been lifted. 

It’s been raised from 500kg/week to 2ton/week. 

This is a start, still nowhere near enough to make a difference or make it worth it for those boys to chase them flat out again, but it will help the guys out that already do it. 

This goes against all the advice and “research” that shark smart came out with, so it shows out there somewhere that the truth is reaching the right people!!!!!!!

This would be the direct result of people asking questions and disputing the garbage the sharkscam crew come up with, well done legends, let’s hope this is a start to change!!!!!!!!!

For the below the line commenter, where do you fall on the spectrum of shark fishing?

Are you, a, it’s their ocean leave ’em alone, b, kill em all or, c, maybe ice a few of the cunts here and there and see if it don’t just make a difference?