Authorities renew shark warnings for Gladstone coast, Great Barrier Reef in time for Easter holidays

Authorities have warned that disposing of food scraps overboard and taking selfies with sharks could attract large fines as tourism operators get ready for a busy Easter break. WATCH THE VIDEO

Activities which attract sharks are banned at some tourism hotspots in Central Queensland as authorities prepare for the busy Easter holiday period.

With camping areas reopening over Easter, holiday goers are encouraged to be ‘SharkSmart’ and not perform illegal activities such as dumping fish scraps overboard in special areas.

Great Barrier Reef and Marine Parks Region regional director, Anthony Contarino said activities that attracted sharks were declared illegal at North West Island Reef, which is part of the Capricorn Bunker Group in the southern Great Barrier Reef.

Tropical North West Island is a camping area, part of the Capricornia Cays National Park. and sits 75km east of Gladstone and is popular for fishing and other water activities. Picture: Supplied

“The special area declaration was made by the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service for safety reasons in 2021 and applies to the island’s surrounding waters,” Mr Contarino said.

It follows three shark bites at North West Island, 75km northeast of Gladstone, between December 2019 and April 2o2o, including the tragic death of 23-year old Queensland Parks and Wildlife ranger Zach Robba.

Zach Robba, 23, was remembered by friends as doing what he loved in his dream job as a Queensland Parks and Wildlife Ranger when he was killed by a shark off North West Island in the southern Great Barrier Reef. Photo: Supplied

“We believe people attracting sharks with fish or scraps for a photo or video opportunity increased the risk of shark bites in waters around the island, as did people who dumped their fish scraps offshore,” he said.

“Sharks are unpredictable, wild animals and deliberately attracting them for selfies is dangerous and increases the potential for other people to be injured from shark encounters.”

Following recent attacks, QPWS and the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries declared new rules as well as launching SharkSmart, an educational campaign to reduce risks.

In special activity areas, people cannot attract sharks by any means in order to have a close interaction and cannot process fish products, dump fish scraps or clean fish processing equipment in the water.

Illegal activities such as dumping fish scraps can attract a shiver of sharks. Picture: generic.

Mr Contarino wanted to remind visitors that sharks were more active at dawn and dusk, and advised swimmers to not go near schools of fish or where birds were diving.

He also encouraged people to swim close to a buddy and to leave the water immediately if they saw a shark.

The special area activity was declared in accordance with Section 128 of the Marine Parks Regulation 2017.