Nine ‘man-eater’ sharks caught off Gold Coast in 2017

NINE ‘man-eater’ sharks were caught off Gold Coast beaches in 2017, according to Queensland Shark Control Program figures obtained by the Gold Coast Bulletin.

A huge tiger shark caught in shark control drumlines just off Snapper Rocks.

JUST nine sharks of the three “man-eater” species were caught off Gold Coast beaches in 2017, according to Queensland Shark Control Program figures obtained by the Bulletin.

A great white, two bulls and six tiger sharks ranging from 1.7m to 2.5m were among the 35 targeted predators caught off the Gold Coast.

This is compared to the 434 target sharks caught across Queensland, which was a drop on 2016 when 531 target sharks were caught. All targeted sharks are killed.

When reviewing the figures, Sea World marine science director Trevor Long said many sharks caught last year were not big enough to be considered dangerous.

Sea World director of marine sciences Trevor Long. Picture: Adam Head.

“A white shark under two metres isn’t going to be a problem,” Mr Long said.

“If you look at the data, we’ve got 150 sharks under 2m long. Those animals should be released alive.”

On the Gold Coast, 80 non-target species were caught, which included five dolphins, a humpback whale and a green turtle that died in the nets.

A total of 215 non-target animals were caught across Queensland, — an increase on 2016 when fisheries data reported 56 animals were caught across the state.

“What’s also interesting is the amount of target compared to non target, what it identifies is that we pay an awfully high price,” Mr Long said.

Shark netting off the Gold Coast. Picture: Richard Gosling

Mr Long called on the Queensland Government to work with scientists to find ways to limit the bycatch, a call he said had fallen on deaf ears for decades.

“The frustrating thing is that we have a government that isn’t open minded. Whenever you make suggestions they seem to fall on deaf ears,” he said.

“To me that’s a worrying situation. I’ve been working at this for 25-30 years, I think there’s things we can do that lessen the impact of non-targeted species.

“We don’t need to lose turtles, dugongs and rays or detriment bather safety.”

Mr Long said shark nets could be replaced by drum lines in some areas off the Gold Coast.

He said a 1985 replacement of nets with drum lines at North Stradbroke Island had been successful.

“You could say North Stradbroke is more sharky (than the Gold Coast) because of the offshore reefs and it is closer to the continental shelf,” Mr Long said.

A loggerhead turtle caught at Rainbow Bay. Picture: Sea Shepherd.

“The nets were removed and replaced with baited hooks.

“We haven’t had an attack at (the island’s) Main Beach or Cylinder Beach since 1985. Now that’s a pretty good record.

“I’d rather see no nets at all, but what I’d most like to see is an open minded government.

“Drum lines are more targeted, they cost less, and they have less bycatch.”

He said he was open to a workshop between all beach stakeholders in an attempt to limit bycatch.

“Let’s review the statistics and look at lessening the impact on all this other wildlife. I don’t want to see any changes to impact bather safety,” Mr Long said.

A Department of Agriculture and Fisheries spokesman would not comment on whether the government was open to working with scientists to limit by catch.

A 2.5m great white shark off of Shoalhaven in January 2017. Source: Twitter

ATTACK FACTS

Shark attacks in Queensland waters from 1948 to 1962, the year nets were installed on the Gold Coast.

1948, Dec. 26: Eric Keys, Kings Beach, Caloundra. Left arm torn off. Died.

1949, April 17: Richard Joseph Maguire, Ellis Beach, Cairns. Left leg torn off. Died.

1949, Aug. 28: James Howard, Yorkeys Knob, Cairns. Right leg, thigh mauled. Died.

1950, Nov. 25: Lee Vincent Ryan, Burleigh Heads. Large piece of buttock, two fingers of right hand and most of left hand torn off. Survived.

1950, Dec. 16: Desmond Quinlan, Palm Beach. Abdomen mauled. Died.

1951, Sept 2: Dr Harold Jocke, Fitzroy River, Rockhampton. Found dead on a yacht with right leg torn off.

1951, Oct. 22: Arthur James Kenealey, Kissing Point, Townsville. Body found outside swimming enclosure with right leg torn off and left thigh mauled.

1953, Dec. 13: Neil Tapp, Palm Beach. Survived.

1956, Feb. 26: Barry Keith Antonini, Pioneer River, near Mackay. Died.

1958, Nov. 22: Peter Gerard Spronk, Surfers Paradise. Badly mauled. Died.

1959, Jan 17: Peter John Neil, Alexandra Headland. Mauled foot. Survived.

1959, Nov. 22: Jeffrey Francis Sachse, Northcliffe Beach. Left leg mauled. Survived.

1959, Nov. 28: David Beaver, North Burleigh. Survived.

1959, Dec. 19: Stanley Arthur Mullins, off Wynnum. Died.

1960, Nov. 27: Harry M. Bicknell, Black Beach, near Mackay. Survived.

1960, Dec. 21: Lester McDougall, Brisbane River. Survived.

1961, Dec. 28: John Andrews, Noosa Heads. Left leg torn off. Died.

1961, Dec. 28: Margaret Hobbs and Martin Steffens, Mackay. Hobbs, who lost a leg and both arms, died. Steffens, who lost his right arm, survived.

1962, Feb. 4: Lance Maloney, Greenmount Beach, Coolangatta. Bitten on leg. Survived.