Qld may replace shark nets with drumlines during winter months

The State Government is considering replacing shark nets with drumlines off the Queensland coast during winter. It comes as three whales were trapped in nets off the Gold Coast in three days earlier this month and as a 100,000-signature petition was delivered.

SHARK nets could be replaced with drumlines during winter months after several whales were found tangled off the Queensland coast.

Fisheries Minister Mark Furner said the Government understood the importance of both whales and tourism.

“I’ve recently had a briefing from my department … in terms of looking at replacing those nets with shark drumlines,” he said.

The Minister said announcements regarding future arrangements would be made shortly.

But he reiterated human lives mattered in those areas where shark control programs exist.

“We’ll address the science behind the briefing I received from the department about looking at the value of replacing shark nets with drumlines,” he said.

“We listen to science.”

Earlier this month, three humpback whales became entangled in nets off the Gold Coast in just three days.

More than 100,000 people have signed a petition calling for shark nets to be removed from Queensland waters.

The petition, organised by southeast Queensland based group Humpbacks and High Rises, was delivered to Mr Furner’s office today.

The group says at least 68 whales have been caught in the Gold Coast shark nets in the past 30 years. Seven have died.

The petition, supported by the Australia Marine Conservation Society and Sea Shepherd, calls for urgent improvement to the state’s controversial shark control solution.

It says that should include the removal of nets during the winter whale migration season.

More than 85 per cent of humpback whale incidents involving the the nets since 1990 happened on the Gold Coast, the group says.

Originally published as Qld may replace shark nets with drumlines during winter months