The utility of shark nets is again being challenged, with the north coast meshing trial snagging just two targeted sharks out of 143 animals caught in its second year.

Separate data from state archives going back to 1950 also reveal almost 20,000 animals have been caught in shark nets, including in the 51 nets off the beaches of Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong. Many of the creatures caught are now endangered, such as grey nurse sharks.

A dead dusky whaler shark entangled in nets off Seven Mile Beach in Lennox Head, last December. Credit:Sea Shepherd

The Berejiklian government removed the six nets off the north-east coast around Ballina this month, and it is yet to decide whether a third year of trials should proceed next summer.

"The results of the net trial are being reviewed alongside feedback from the community," said a spokeswoman for Fisheries Minister Niall Blair. "This information will help inform the NSW government’s future decisions on shark nets."