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It has been more than two months since the second wave of nets was removed from the beaches of the North Coast to give way to migrating whales, but the community is still waiting for the results of the investigation.
The "ridiculous" waiting time has put the community's conservatives and the navy angry.
During the trial, which took place from November 23, 2017 to May 2, 2018, each fillet was fished for 148 days (non-consecutive) on five beaches of Ballina, Lennox Head and Evans Head, and captured 145 animals of 17 species, with an overall survival of 60%.
Among the victims were four dolphins, two green turtles and one endangered leatherback turtle.
Only two sharks from targeted species – bull sharks – were caught during this second test.
TANGLED UP: This subadult bottle The nose dolphin was killed in shark nets off Noosa's main beach on Wednesday. Contribution
The community investigation was closed on May 18th.
Ballina Greens MP Tamara Smith said the results of the second trial showed that the nets were "ineffective".
"I do not know why it takes months but I can only speculate that the opposition of the community is even stronger," Ms. Smith said.
"In the end, if it really worked and people were safer, I would have to go to my party and say," We have to look at that, it could actually help protect people, "but that Is not what science shows.
"The millions spent on these two tests could have been spent on shark monitoring and drone technology that they are deploying.
"But these drones are still only supervised swimming beaches … According to science, surfers are the only ones to have a (minimal) risk of meeting a shark, so we still have nothing for surfers besides Shark Shield, which is still tested.
"If you say that you will be guided by science, be guided by science."
Ms. Smith stated that the polls were a "public relations test".
"If you want to build something, you want experts, you do not ask members of the community" do you think we should use it? "
"We have scientific experts who tell us what works and what does not work." The community survey is an opinion, not scientific.
"But we have people in good faith who have shared their thoughts, what is the delay?
"This should be transparent, it's public information, it's not something they should sit on."
The first Mesh-Net trial of North Coast sharks was conducted between December 8, 2016 and May 30, 2017.
During this time, nine target sharks were caught from a total of 275 animals (3% of the total catch). Four sharks were released alive.
The community survey of this period found that among residents of Ballina Shire and Evans Head, 46% were positive before trial and 33% were positive after trial, bycatch being a major concern.
Sea Shepherd spokeswoman Allyson Jennings said she wondered when the results would be made available to the public.
"The second test nets were installed, but that did not reflect the first community survey where there was a 33% confidence in the nets," she said.
"67% of people do not want them, but they went anyway."
Mrs. Jennings stated that the second trial should never have taken place.
"The amount of bycatch for 11 target sharks over two trials is unacceptable.
"Nets do not protect people and kill animals indiscriminately.
"We recently saw in Queensland a whale entangled in the net and a white shark appeared and started to attack the whale in the net.
"Where is public safety by leaving animals in the nets that attract sharks?
"Ideally, we do not want the program to continue, but the NSW government is doing due diligence in removing the nets for the whale migration period.
"It's been two months now, how long does it take to write these results, the community needs answers.
"After this second trial, a third trial should not even take place."
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