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.
'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 Waters Main Beach, Agnes Waters
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.
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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. '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 Waters Main Beach, Agnes Waters 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.
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