Experts demand fish feeding ban after Tangalooma shark attack
An independent review will determine what action to take to protect swimmers from more shark attacks at Tangalooma’s Wrecks where fish had been fed minutes before a man was bitten.
QLD News
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A recent shark attack near the Tangalooma Wrecks on Moreton Island has highlighted a dangerous local practice of throwing a bucket of fish into the water to attract fish for paying tourists in glass-bottomed boats.
The attack, which left a 29-year-old man with abdominal and leg injuries, occurred on Saturday, February 22, minutes after a fish-feeding tour at the Wrecks near Tangalooma Resort.
The incident has sparked concerns over whether certain tourism practices, particularly fish feeding, are increasing the risk of shark encounters near popular swimming areas.
It also prompted marine industry professionals to call for urgent action to suspend fish-feeding activities and prohibit fishing near popular swimming areas to reduce shark attack risk.
Marine industry insiders and local experts argue that such activities may inadvertently attract sharks to swimmers, raising the likelihood of future attacks.
However, the state government said there were no plans to introduce mandatory “no swimming” zones in the Moreton Bay Marine Park.
Under Queensland SharkSmart guidelines, swimmers are advised to avoid areas where fishing or fish feeding occurs, as these activities can lure sharks.
However, TangaTours, which runs twice-daily fish-feeding excursions near the wrecks, has come under scrutiny for operating in designated swimming and snorkelling zones.
An industry insider, speaking anonymously due to fishing permit concerns, warned of the dangers of mixing fish feeding near swimming and snorkelling.
“You’re combining fish feeding, fishing, snorkelling, and swimming all in the same area — that dramatically increases the risk of an incident,” they said.
“There has never been a shark attack at Tangalooma before and what is unusual is that it happened at 3pm in full daylight and in clear waters.
“Swimming in an area where there is fish feeding with balls of baitfish attracted to the fish feeding will always increase the risk of a shark attack – which is what the state government guidelines stipulate.
“TangaTours tips a bucket of berley into waters next to the glass-bottom boat to attract the fish for the paying tourists.
“Stopping fish feeding won’t ruin the experience for tourists who can still enjoy glass-bottom boat tours without the added danger of attracting sharks.”
However, Tangalooma Island Resort director David James denied the resort was “berleying up” the waters for tourists and said there were no plans for the resort “to voluntarily implement a no-swim zone”.
Tangalooma Resort said that the food fed to fish by TangaTours was in pellet form and was not other fish.
“There are no tourism practices that berley up the water at Tangalooma,” Mr James said.
“At Tangalooma Island Resort, we adhere to strict government guidelines and protocols to ensure the safety of our guests during water-based activities.
“We maintain that shark attacks are rare occurrences. We work closely with marine safety experts and follow their guidance to minimise any potential risks associated with our water-based activities.”
This week’s attack follows a tragic precedent set in 2020 when Queensland Parks and Wildlife Ranger Zachary Robba was fatally attacked near North West Island, 75km northeast of Gladstone.
In response to that 2020 attack, authorities banned fish cleaning around the island to deter sharks from gathering near human activity.
Some Moreton Bay fishermen have argued that similar restrictions should now be applied at the Tangalooma Wrecks.
Fishermen have also voiced particular concerns over an increasing presence of aggressive bull sharks, known for their dominance over other shark species.
Queensland Amateur Fishing Clubs Association president Ian Brill said he had not received any requests for new restrictions in Moreton Bay from any of his 100 recreational angling clubs across Queensland.
“None of our members have raised any concerns with me about adding in more restrictions to fishing practices (because of shark attacks),” Mr Brill said.
“However, bull sharks are a big issue with our members as they are getting bigger and are in places we have never seen them in before – and much further offshore.
“Feeding fish does not always attract sharks if the fish used do not have blood – and the tour operators would be aware of that.
“However, sharks will be attracted to a feeding frenzy and feeding fish or throwing in berley should not happen anywhere near people swimming or snorkelling or at the Wrecks.
“Swimming and feeding fish should be two mutually exclusive activities.”
Mr Brill said the state government was holding a conference with the sector next month to discuss an increase in the number of shark strikes on professional fishing lines.
Data from Queensland Fisheries indicates a significant rise in shark populations across the state, with drum line and net captures tripling over the past six years.
Tourism operators fear that if another shark attack occurs, the state government could follow the precedent set at Cid Harbour in the Whitsundays, where multiple attacks led to the enforcement of a “no-swim” zone in October 2018.
Mr Brill said such a move at Tangalooma could devastate the local tourism sector.
Despite the incident, Tangalooma Island Resort has reported no decline in visitor numbers, with guests continuing to participate in snorkelling activities.
However, there are currently no shark prevention measures or lifeguard patrols at The Wrecks, which is located within a national marine park.
The state government has confirmed that its shark management program is under review in response to recent incidents, including the fatal attack on 17-year-old Charlize Zmuda off Bribie Island earlier this month.
Data from the state government’s QFish website which is run by the Department of Fisheries shows since 2020 shark control measures have resulted in 5076 sharks being caught across the state’s coastal waters with Townsville experiencing the most activity.
The data, which tracks the number of sharks caught in 13 locations, found that Townsville recorded the highest number of shark catches, with 222 sharks caught in 2024 alone and 909 sharks caught between 2020 and 2025.
Bundaberg recorded 103 sharks in 2024, and 352 since 2020, while the Gold Coast had 53 in 2024 and 385 since 2020.
Gladstone and the Sunshine Coast North also reported steady shark catches, with Gladstone recording a total of 360 sharks caught since 2020 and Sunshine Coast North recording 393 over the period.
Bribie Island, where Ms Zmuda died this month, recorded 13 shark catches since 2020 with three in 2024 and three already this year.
North Stradbroke Island reported fewer sharks caught, with only 26 in 2024.
Similarly, Rainbow Beach had just 40 sharks caught in 2024, with a five-year total of 212 since 2020.
With a total of 5076 sharks caught across Queensland since 2020, authorities are continuing to monitor shark activity closely.
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Originally published as Experts demand fish feeding ban after Tangalooma shark attack
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