Story by Hamish Broome •
WORLD ADAPTIVE surf champion, commercial fisherman, and lifetime Byron local Mark “Mono” Stewart has called for the State Government to install a trial shark net off Clarkes Beach and Main Beach in Byron Bay.
Byron Shire beaches were conspicuously ignored by the State Government this morning when it announced it was fast-tracking shark net legislation to allow nets off Ballina’s four most popular beaches and Evans Head, despite a fatal attack off Clarkes Beach in 2014.
Byron Shire mayor Simon Richardson has repeatedly rejected the use of nets off Byron’s beaches.
But Mr Stewart said the perception Byron Shire locals mostly reject shark nets was wrong, despite “the powers that be” saying so.
He said people in his community – many who had grown up the Bay area – supported the idea.
He said people agreed nets weren’t the “final answer”, “but we need to do something now”.
“I don’t know anyone personally who doesn’t want them,” he said.
“We’re trying to work out who all the people are in the media saying Byron Bay doesn’t want nets.
“I support them as a short term solution, even if it is just a trial.”
My family and I agree Mono