Marine campaigner slams shark nets as ‘archaic’ as government finishes reinstall

A marine campaigner has slammed the Gold Coast’s shark nets as ‘archaic’ as the government finishes reinstalling the equipment after Cyclone Oma.

A MARINE campaigner has slammed the Gold Coast’s shark nets and drumlines as “archaic” and “unnecessary”.

It comes as the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries finishes replacing the equipment after it was temporarily removed due to ex-tropical cyclone Oma several weeks ago.

Humane Society International’s marine campaigner Lawrence Chlebeck said though he isn’t surprised to hear the news, he hopes the government will reconsider.

ENTANGLED WHALES REIGNITE SHARK NETS DEBATE ON COAST

The nets and drumlines have caused controversy for several years.

“We think that nets and drumlines are an archaic and ineffective way of protecting ocean users, that there are better ways of protecting them and sharks in our environment,” he said.

“We don’t support the drumlines, we don’t support the nets, and we’re urging Queensland to look at ways to protect them that doesn’t kill marine wildlife.

“There’s a clause in legislation that allows them to be removed in increment weather so it’s a given that if they were taken out ... it wasn’t permanent and they were going to be put back in.”

Shark nets and drumlines were taken away from some Gold Coast beaches in the leadup to Cyclone Oma.

The nets and drumlines were removed in preparation for the cyclone’s arrival.

Fisheries Queensland Shark Control Program Acting Manager Christ Watts said the last of the nets were returned today to the water at Rainbow Beach.

“The shark control protection equipment has been reinstalled progressively as soon as the weather and sea conditions had allowed,” he said.

SUBSCRIBE TO THE GOLD COAST BULLETIN - JUST $1 FOR THE FIRST 28 DAYS

“Setting the shark control equipment is dangerous work so our crews have been monitoring the weather and sea conditions for the earliest opportunity to safely return the equipment to the water.

“Whilst the combination of nets and drumlines aims to make beaches safer to swim at, swimmers should follow safe swimming practices including swimming between the flags and not swimming at dusk or dawn.”