Qld to add lethal shark nets, drumlines to popular tourist beaches
The Queensland government is set to increase the number of shark deterrents at south-east Queensland and Bundaberg beaches, but the decision to use lethal methods that could be at odds with federal laws has attracted criticism.
Queensland Primary Industries Minister Tony Perrett said on Sunday the $88.2 million boost to the shark management program over four years “puts swimmers first”, and was the largest funding increase in more than six decades.
Perrett said the program would prioritise “innovative technologies”, including whale deterrents – steering the migrating mammals clear of the mesh shark nets – as well as research into local shark populations.
Shark surveillance drones are slated for Tangalooma Beach on Moreton Island.Credit: Ben Hudson - Visit Brisbane
“This will be really valuable research that we do just to inform the number of sharks we have in our ocean and whether their behaviours are changing,” Perrett said.
A dozen beaches have been considered for additional shark-deterrent measures, five of which would only see drone surveillance used.
Seven of the earmarked beaches would use drumlines – anchored bait hooks designed to trap and hold sharks – shark nets, or, for three beaches on the Sunshine and Gold coasts, a mix of both.
Beaches earmarked for shark-deterrent measures
Drumlines:
- The Spit, Gold Coast
- Pacific Beach, Gold Coast
- Happy Valley, Sunshine Coast
- Coolum North, Sunshine Coast
- Peregian North, Sunshine Coast
- Elliott Heads, Bundaberg
- Moore Park, Bundaberg
Nets:
- Pacific Beach, Gold Coast
- Coolum North, Sunshine Coast
- Peregian North, Sunshine Coast
Drones:
- Rainbow Bay / Greenmount, Gold Coast
- Cylinder Beach, North Stradbroke Island
- Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast
- Tangalooma, Moreton Bay
- Elliott Heads and/or Moore Park, Bundaberg
- Agnes Water Main Beach, Agnes Water
But animal welfare organisation Humane World for Animals criticised the decision, saying it could open Queensland’s shark management program to federal scrutiny.
Established in 1962, Queensland’s program currently has an exemption from the federal Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, introduced in 1999.
“Since the shark control program originated before that act, it was not assessed under the act,” said Humane World for Animals marine biologist Lawrence Chlebeck.
“However, if the program is expanded and proven to continue to have a significant impact on threatened species ... that opens up the [entire] program to assessment under the EPBC Act.”
The act restricts actions that could affect threatened or endangered animals. Lethal shark deterrent measures can fall into this category due to byproduct deaths in such species.
“It’s going to lead to a clash between the Queensland state government and the federal government over that clause in the act,” Chlebeck said.
The state government confirmed its program expansion would use lethal drumlines, except where they were barred by Commonwealth law.
In Queensland, this area covers the Great Barrier Reef, following a 2019 court case, which the state government lost.
“We make no apology for putting human safety first, and that’s what it’s about,” Perrett said.
“We have a $33 billion tourism industry and, of course, when there is a shark attack, it does receive significant headlines.”
The state government’s decision comes months after 17-year-old surf lifesaving volunteer Charlize Zmuda died in a shark attack at Woorim Beach, on Bribie Island.
Zmuda was an experienced swimmer, and the Department of Primary Industries confirmed drumlines off the beach had been baited – and the shark spotted – before the fatal attack.
It followed another fatal attack in December last year, when 40-year-old youth pastor Luke Walford was bitten off the coast of Rockhampton while spear fishing.
Shark bites off beaches with deterrents are considered uncommon by experts, and unprovoked attacks in general are “extremely rare”.
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