Swimmers at Sydney beaches are being put at risk by so-called eco-warriors who are destroying the protective barriers, say furious MPs from both sides of politics.
Five shark nets around Sydney and the NSW Central Coast were damaged in apparent vandalism in a one-year period, the latest Shark Meshing Program Annual Performance Report found.
The damage includes a slash in the middle of the Bondi net and at Manly a dolphin pinger was missing and southern anchor vandalised.
Only one fatal shark attack has occurred on a netted beach since the meshing program started in 1937, and both major parties are furious with those responsible for the damage.
Primary Industries Minister Niall Blair said deliberate malicious damage is not just foolish but can attract jail sentences of up to five years.
Labor frontbencher Walt Secord wants to see an even tougher penalty put in place.
"If the state government wants to bring in tougher measures I'm willing again to offer my bipartisan support," he told reporters at Bondi on Tuesday.
The report also triggered a debate over by-catch after a massive increase in sea animals killed by the nets.
More than 700 marine creatures were caught in NSW shark nets and 364 animals killed in a one-year period, the report found.
The dead by-catch includes 90 protected species, while 19 turtles and 14 dolphins were also found dead in shark nets at NSW beaches during the 2015-16 financial year.
The figures are an increase of more than 200 per cent on the 116 animals killed in the same period in 2014 -15, including 23 protected or threatened species.
The NSW Greens are calling for the controversial shark nets to be phased out and replaced with non-lethal solutions.
"Laid out nose to tail, the marine animals killed by this program including dolphins, rays, turtles and non-threatening sharks would stretch half the length of Bondi Beach," Greens MLC Justin Field said.
Of the 758 animals tangled in the nets, 133 were target species of shark, the latest report shows.
NSW department of primary industries (DPI), which runs the nets, said on Tuesday a review will be put in place to address the increase in by-catch.
DPI's Director General Scott Hansen said his department is committed to doing all it can to get captured animals out of the nets quickly.
He said he was encouraged that the percentage of animals surviving after being entangled had improved.
Mr Hansen said improved technologies and regular surveillance of the nets are two measures being used to reduce by-catch.
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