Townsville is shark capital of Queensland

TOWNSVILLE is officially the shark capital of Queensland with more animals caught off the city’s beaches than anywhere else in the state.

02/03/2009: A white pointer shark being tagged for CSIRO research 13 May 2008. Pic. Supplied

TOWNSVILLE is officially the shark capital of Queensland with more animals caught off the city’s beaches than anywhere else in the state.

Figures from the Department of Fisheries reveal a total of 1403 have been caught on drum lines off Townsville and Magnetic Island from 2001 until March 31 this year under their shark control program.

That is almost twice the number caught on the Gold Coast (755) and almost 200 more than nearest rivals Mackay (1212).

The largest hooked off Townsville was a 4.2m tiger shark at Alma Bay in 2007.

Since the start of the program in 1962, there has been one shark fatality at a shark control beach in Queensland.

Shark Control Program manager Mr Jeff Krause said Townsville beaches were once protected by a combination of nets and drum lines but now baited lines just remained in six bays on Magnetic Island, and at Pallarenda and The Strand.

“The aim ... is to reduce the possibility of shark attack for swimmers by removing resident, dangerous sharks from the area,” Mr Krause said.

Mr Krause said shark control equipment was serviced 14 out of every 28 days, weather permitting, and any dangerous sharks still alive were euthanised.

Non-dangerous sharks, such as the tawny shark, are released alive where possible, he said.

Mr Krause said the number of shark catches in Townsville varied each year due to environmental and climatic conditions, but could appear higher due to the north’s rock and reef habitats.

James Cook University’s Centre for Sustainable Tropical Fisheries and Aquaculture Director Professor Colin Simpfendorfer said he thought local catch numbers were high because of the placement of drum lines.

“These figures are really the function of all the fishing gear so it is not a massive amount of catch considering,” Prof Simpfendorfer said.

“We know the east coast of Queensland has a relatively healthy shark population.

“For some species, the control program is probably having a detrimental impact from an ecological perspective, and that is not desirable, but the purpose of the program is for the protection of people.”

Prof Simpfendorfer said in the early 1900s, Townsville was one of the largest places for sharks in Australia, but changes in ocean behaviour and animal management programs had seen encounters decline.

“The risks for people from interactions with sharks today are extremely small,” he said.

“If you do go into the water there is some risk but I think it was more dangerous to drive to the beach than swim there.”

Townsville lifeguard supervisor Russell Blanchard said his crews often saw sharks off Magnetic Island and The Strand, but beach closures were rarely warranted.

“There is a breeding ground for tiger sharks in Cleveland Bay and we regular see them roving on the jet skis ... but we are not their natural prey,” Mr Blanchard said.

“Any attacks are usually mistaken identity because most of the time they are just cruising around looking for food.”

Originally published as Townsville is shark capital of Queensland