Qld shark cull back on agenda after spate of attacks

A controversial shark cull is being considered by the state government following a recent surge in attacks in Moreton Bay. VOTE IN OUR POLL

The latest attack happened at the Tangalooma Wrecks off Moreton Island.

• When will human lives be prioritised?

A controversial shark cull is being considered by the Queensland government following two fatalities among a spate of attacks this summer.

It is understood early talks have been held within the government as part of its review of the state’s Shark Control Program, but a decision on whether to reduce the number of sharks has not been made.

Primary Industries Minister Tony Perrett, who is responsible for Fisheries Queensland, declined to provide detail about the consideration of a shark cull or how it would be implemented.

“The Crisafulli government’s focus will always be the safety of Queenslanders,” he said.

A spate of attacks, including two fatalities, this summer has prompted Premier David Crisafulli to pledge action to make “our oceans safer for Queenslanders for generations”.

It comes as a leading tourism expert said the implementation of shark safety protocols at Moreton Island should be considered by the state government following a recent shark attack.

On Saturday a lone snorkeller, believed to be a Moreton Island resident, was swimming at the popular Tangalooma Wrecks when he was bitten by a shark.

The incident was the second in just three weeks in Moreton Bay, sparking warnings from experts about a “cluster of bites” in the region.

Daniel Gschwind, the former head of the Queensland Tourism Industry Council and now a professor at Griffith University’s Institute of Tourism, said a conversation surrounding shark safety implementation at the tourist site was needed.

“Certainly it’s worth looking into, is it necessary to have that shark protocol in place for that particular area, I think it’s legitimate to look into that,” he said.

“Getting together, getting all the relevant parties together is absolutely the right thing to do.

“It’s really important also to not to reach for the … easiest method that may in some cases instil a false sense of security and it’s not evidence-based.”

Mr Gschwind said any conversations must include experts to pick the right safety implementation, if any, by analysing current shark trends and patterns.

He said while tourism operators and Queensland Parks and Wildlife were generally very good at providing information on the environment a tourist could find themselves in, it was always sensible to re-evaluate in order to minimise risk.

“You can never completely eliminate risk but you can certainly minimise them and you can put measures in place to give visitors also more agency in making decisions that are based on the best information,” he said.

“The whole island is extraordinary and really something we can all be proud of as a local but also can use as a major drawcard for visitors from around the world.

“Doing the right thing and informing visitors and minimising risk as best we can do, that’s what we should do and I think everybody is committed to that from the government to the commercial operator to the local community.”

Tourism and Environment Minister Andrew Powell also would not drawn on whether it was time for a shark cull.

“The Premier and our government is very clear – we will put public safety ahead of sharks, crocodiles or what have you,” he said.

“On the specifics of it, I know that Minister Perrett is looking at the recent review that’s been made into our shark safety program, and he will bring forward a government response in due course.”

According to the Department of Primary Industries, the closest shark safety protocol to Tangalooma is a set of drumlines at Woorim in Bribie Island and another at Amity Point at North Stradbroke Island – where a 21-year-old woman was fatally mauled by multiple bull sharks in 2006 – with no drumlines or nets at Moreton Island.

Tangalooma Island Resort director David James said extra people and boat lookouts have been dispatched to the water as a precaution following Sunday’s attack.

“Because of the sensitivity around it, because of the safety, again, for our guests and our staff who are in the water, absolutely, we’ve had additional spotters at times,” he said.

With multiple tours a day from the resort to the wrecks, Mr James said the resort had their own safety protocols including conversations on interacting with the wrecks themselves, other boats and wildlife including sharks.

Safety protocol on the beach and the wrecks is the responsibility of the state government.