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ABC News
07-06-2025
- General
- ABC News
Queensland plan to increase lethal shark control measures goes against advice of government-commissioned report
Queensland's shark control program (SCP) has been killing an increasing number of non-target species and is failing to meet its ecological goals and community expectations, according to a report commissioned by the state government. The KPMG Shark Control Program Evaluation Report stressed that while 'traditional measures' are still required, the program needed to transition away from 'environmentally harmful practices' such as drumlines and mesh nets, and suggested a trial removing nets during whale migration season. Yet the Queensland Government has announced the 2025-2029 SCP would include the expanded use of lethal-control measures and has ruled out removing nets during winter to 'support Queensland's beach culture'. The decision has angered many within the scientific community, which has long questioned the evidence underpinning the use of lethal measures. But the Queensland Government said the evidence was clear the SCP was working, and human safety came before all else. Mesh nets and drumlines are the main measures used to control sharks in Queensland There are 27 nets used in the state, most of which are near popular beaches on the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and Rainbow Bay. The nets are up to 186 metres long and six metres deep, anchored to the sea floor. The criticism of nets is that they catch indiscriminately, and can ensnare endangered animals, including turtles, dugongs and whales. The KPMG report noted that nets caught 843 animals between 2021-2024. Some 695 of which were not one of the seven species of shark targeted by the SCP, meaning that 82 per cent of what is caught is considered 'bycatch'. Of those seven such 'target species', the White, Tiger and Bull shark are considered most dangerous. There are 383 drumlines placed parallel to popular beaches in Queensland, which are large, baited hooks attached to buoys and also anchored to the ocean floor. The drumlines are better at targeting sharks, given other species are either too small to grab the hook, or aren't attracted by the chunks of mullet or shark used as bait. These hooks snared 2,753 animals between 2021-2024, 1,223 of which was bycatch. Most of what is hooked on drumlines dies, either while snared on the hook, or by contractors paid to euthanise target sharks. The average annual bycatch killed by Queensland's SCP has increased in recent years, from 305 animals per year between 2001-2021 to 363 per year between 2021-2024, according to KMPG. The report's author acknowledges this level of mortality is no longer acceptable to many Queenslanders, and 'there is a need to reduce the impact on ecosystems … to respond to community expectations'. However, the Queensland Government has made it clear that reducing shark bites is what matters. 'While the program will seek to minimise negative impacts on marine ecosystems, this is not a purpose of the program,' its 2025-2029 SCP reads. The evidence for lethal control measures in the report noted that before 1962 — when shark control in the state began — there was an average of three bites and one death per year in Queensland. Between 1962 and 2024, there was an average of 2.3 shark 'incidents' and 0.35 deaths per year, despite a significant increase in human population. The KPMG report said this was due to the removal of sharks which had the potential to attack swimmers. Between 2001 and 2021, nearly 7,000 target sharks were caught in Queensland, which is an average of 350 per year. Between 2021 and 2024, 1,678 target sharks were caught at an average of 438 per year. At the same time, shark incidents per year have gone from 3.35 between 2001-2021 to 1.04 between 2021-2024, according to KPMG. While the report noted this was correlative evidence and did not necessarily prove lethal measures have caused a reduction in attacks, the Queensland Government has used it to justify the expansion of the use of nets and drumlines at seven new locations on the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and in the Wide Bay region. It will also introduce daily servicing of drum lines to ensure they are baited and 'operating effectively'. 'It is anticipated that the increase in servicing will correspond to an increase in shark catch,' the 2025-2029 SCP stated. Australian Marine Conservation Society shark scientist, Dr Leonardo Guida, said there was a genuine need for protective measures on Queensland beaches, in part because of climate change. 'You're getting these subtropical species like tiger sharks and bull sharks progressively moving further and further south,' he said. 'As they identify certain habitats that they feel comfortable in, they may in fact overlap with beaches that are popular with people.' But he said lethal shark control lacked scientific evidence and was ethically outdated. 'It's utterly baffling. It's 2025, not 1925.' He pointed to a 2019 decision by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal which found Queensland's lethal shark program in the Great Barrier Reef Marine National Park was 'out of step with national and international developments' and did not reduce the risk of unprovoked attacks. 'They interviewed scientists from across the country, reviewed the literature and their conclusion was that with respect to the lethal component of the shark control program … the evidence to support the case that it doesn't improve people's safety was overwhelming,' he said. 'Not only does it not improve public safety, but it comes at a real, significant and disproportionate risk to critically endangered animals like grey nurse sharks, turtles, dolphins and dugongs.' As a result, the state government is required to release sharks caught on drumlines within the federally administered marine national park. The government's new SCP includes the use of new, non-lethal measures which have the support of people like Dr Guida. A SharkSmart drone program will be established at 20 beaches following a successful trial of the technology, which allows surf lifesavers to identify potentially dangerous sharks from the air. It will also invest in shark population assessments and trial whale deterrents to prevent them becoming entangled in nets. The Queensland Government has said it would only use catch-alert drumlines — which send out a ping when something is snared so it can be released quickly — as well as tag and track sharks in the Great Barrier Reef National Park, where it is legally required to do so. This is because the KPMG report questioned the effectiveness of catch-alert drumlines. This is due to the fact they are placed out every morning and taken in at night, thereby catching fewer sharks and not offering round-the-clock protection. 'It's as though the Queensland Government has literally put a stop sign up and said we are not progressing further with evidence-based measures,' Dr Guida said. 'We'll keep what's currently available and we'll expand culling instead.' Dr Guida said political realities got in the way of meaningful change. 'I think there is this deep-seated fear that if they were to change something and something untoward were to happen... another politician is going to use that against them to bring down their career,' he said. Dr Daryl McPhee from Bond University has been studying the 40-year trend of increasing shark bites globally. 'That's unsurprising because we have more people in the water in more places doing a great diversity of things,' he said. 'We also expect to see more bull sharks around river mouths after prolonged rain and flooding rains, which we've seen a lot over the last couple of years.' He said healthier whale populations might also be responsible for attracting sharks to the east coast. Dr McPhee said a reduction in fishing has likely helped some smaller shark species recover in recent decades. But it was difficult to say whether anecdotal reports of a greater abundance of white, tiger and bull sharks were correct. 'They're highly mobile and rare animals, so that makes stock assessment quite difficult,' he said. Like others, Dr McPhee said he was 'extremely surprised' the Queensland government was expanding lethal shark control measures. To mitigate the 'very low' risk posed by sharks, Dr McPhee said all governments would be better off spending tens of millions on researching shark movements and educating humans. 'A very significant component in the government's new plan does have rejigged and re-emphasised education as a part of it, which is a good thing,' he said. 'Individuals need to take some personal responsibility as well.
Forbes
02-06-2025
- Health
- Forbes
Experts Question Queensland's New Shark Control Strategy
The Queensland government has identified potential locations for its expanded shark control program, ... More based on the presence of Surf Life Saving Queensland and data reflecting beach use. Queensland's Shark Control Program is about to undergo its most significant expansion in decades, with the state government pledging nearly $90 million to install new shark nets, increase the number of drumlines and broaden the reach of drone patrols along the coastline. The move comes amid growing public concern about unprovoked shark bites, especially during peak swimming seasons. 'Today's announcement is big and bold, it puts swimmer safety first,' Minister for Primary Industries Tony Perrett said. 'I have said time and time again, the best science must inform our actions when it comes to [the Department of Agriculture and] However, the plan has sparked immediate backlash from scientists, conservationists and environmental law experts, who say the expansion could do more harm than good to both marine life and public safety. Dr Daryl McPhee, an Associate Professor of Environmental Science at Bond University and one of the country's foremost experts on shark-human interactions, voiced skepticism about the effectiveness of the program during an interview on 4BC Breakfast: 'Regardless of how much the government spends and what it does, there are still likely to be unprovoked shark bites in Queensland waters. […] We have a lot of sharks and a lot of people going in the water.' Shark nets and drumlines have been used in Queensland since the 1960s, with the aim of the nets being to reduce the local population of large, potentially dangerous sharks (primarily tiger sharks and bull sharks) in areas popular with swimmers and surfers. Yet the effectiveness of these methods has been repeatedly questioned. While nets and drumlines may give beachgoers a sense of security, there is limited scientific evidence showing they reduce the overall risk of shark bites. In fact, many shark incidents in Australia have happened at netted beaches. And Sea Shepherd has warned that the planned upgrades could breach national environmental protections. 'Under Section 43B(3) of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, any enlargement or intensification of the Queensland Shark Control Program could be deemed illegal,' Sea Shepard Australia's Jonathan Clark said. This is because current methods like gill nets and baited drumlines often catch more than just the targeted sharks. Non-target species such as dolphins, turtles, rays and even endangered sharks frequently get entangled or killed by these devices. 'These lethal methods don't protect people … Minister Perrett is ignoring the science, legal risks, and public safety, while intensifying a program that should have been phased out years ago. We need to have the shark nets removed, the drumlines ultimately have to go, and we have to get into the modern ideas of using that technology such as drones, shark barriers, and really good public education.' The government is expanding the shark control program in a bid to protect swimmers and uphold ... More Queensland's reputation as a tourism destination. The state government has defended its investment, arguing that the expansion is about using 'every available tool' to keep the public safe. But critics argue that such measures divert attention and resources from alternative strategies that could be more effective and environmentally responsible. Modern drone patrols have been one of the more promising tools added in recent years. Drones allow lifeguards to scan for sharks in real time, alerting people on the beach or in the water if a large animal is detected. However, even drones have limitations. Cloudy skies, rough surf and limited battery life can all reduce their effectiveness. And like any surveillance technology, they rely heavily on well-trained operators and rapid response protocols. Education campaigns, personal shark deterrents like electric anklets and improved signage at high-risk beaches are also often pointed to as lower-impact ways to manage human-shark interactions. The tension between public safety and environmental conservation is not unique to Queensland, but the scale of the planned investment and the potential for legal conflict makes this a notable strike agaisnst shark conservation in the country. If Sea Shepherd goes ahead and sues the state for environmental breaches (which it says isn't out of the question), Queensland may find itself forced to scale back or alter its strategy to comply with national law. This situation is just the latest example of just how complex and contentious shark control has become in an era where both beach safety and biodiversity are high public priorities. In the end, the key question remains: will nearly $90 million worth of nets, drumlines and drones actually make Queensland's waters safer? Or are we spending millions on an illusion of control in a wild ocean we don't fully understand? While public demand for visible shark control measures is understandable, science suggests that no approach will fully eliminate risk. As Dr McPhee pointed out, 'We have a lot of sharks and a lot of people going in the water.' Perhaps the most realistic strategy moving forward is one that accepts some level of risk, prioritizes coexistence and focuses on reducing harm to people and the ocean as a whole.
The Guardian
31-05-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
‘Gut punch': top shark expert quits Queensland advisory panel after LNP expands cull program
One of Australia's leading shark researchers has resigned from his position of almost eight years advising the Queensland shark control program, as members of that scientific working group say they were 'shocked' and sidelined by the state government's decision to expand the lethal control of sharks. Announcing an $88m shark management plan overhaul which would see shark nets and baited drum lines designed to kill target shark species rolled out at more beaches, and existing drum lines used more intensely, the primary industries minister, Tony Perrett, claimed this week that the Liberal National party's strategy was backed by research. 'I have said time and time again; the best science must inform our actions when it comes to Fisheries,' Perrett said on Sunday. But the expansion of the state's shark cull was slammed by conservation groups such as Australian Marine Conservation Society as an 'outdated' and 'unscientific' approach that 'does nothing to improve beach safety'. Sign up for Guardian Australia's breaking news email Amid the noisy backlash this week, marine science professor Colin Simpfendorfer quietly handed in his resignation from the scientific working group to Perrett. Simpfendorfer had been a member of the advisory body since its inception in 2017 and is regarded as one of the country's foremost shark experts, having served as the co-chair of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature Species Survival Commission's (IUCN SSC) shark specialist group. He declined to comment. Speaking on the condition of anonymity, however, several members of the working group said they advised against the expansion of lethal control and were not informed of the LNPs plans to do so until days before they were announced. 'Everyone was shocked and everyone was pretty upset that there wasn't consultation,' one working group member said. 'We were told there was something coming and it was postponed and postponed and postponed. We kind of had the feeling that it was going to be bad … but it was a gut punch.' AMCS shark scientist and campaigner Dr Leonardo Guida said Simpfendorfer was 'unequivocally' Australia's most renowned and respected shark scientist. 'I don't think anyone would dispute the fact that Colin is, not just Australia's best and most respected and well known shark scientist but, even globally, he is up there at the top,' he said. Guida said he would like to sincerely thank Simpfendorfer for his expertise and service in the 'undoubtedly very challenging role' of providing scientific advice to 'what is essentially a state sanctioned marine cull of sharks'. 'As to what his resignation says, only a matter of days after Queensland's announcement to extend the shark cull, my interpretation of that would be that the Queensland government has made a decision that is no longer in line with scientific advice and recommendation,' Guida said. 'That this is a clear departure from scientific advice itself'. Several sources said that in its nearly eight years the working group had been successful in getting 'more science into decision making' around shark management in Queensland and in moving from lethal to non-lethal shark control – but that Sunday's announcement marked a 'philosophical' shift from the top. Some attributed the shift to pressure from commercial and recreational anglers who report increasingly having fish taken from their lines by sharks. Many scientists agree this behaviour – known as shark depredation – is on the rise in many places around the world, though none spoken to for this article believe that a shark cull will have any impact on depredation rates, nor improve the safety of swimmers. Sign up to Breaking News Australia Get the most important news as it breaks after newsletter promotion Others said the decision was partly a reaction to a number of recent shark bites in Queensland, including that which killed 17-year-old surf life saver Charlize Zmuda while swimming at a Bribie Island beach in February, and that which killed youth pastor Luke Walford, who was spear fishing in the Keppel Bay Islands last December. Bribie Island has baited drum lines, while the Keppel islands do not. Shark scientist and Emmy award-winning underwater cinematographer Richard Fitzpatrick, who has been on the scientific working group since its inception, says media reporting around fatal shark incidents may also have contributed to the expansion of lethal shark control measures. 'Media hysteria in Australia is one of the biggest problems with the whole shark issue,' he said 'Imagine if it were reported at the same level we do with car fatalities'. Fitzpatrick said the expansion of lethal shark measures had 'definitely' made him consider his position on the working group, but said that, ultimately, working with the government had allowed scientists to pursue much-needed research into shark tracking and movement. Included in the government's shark control plan, he said, was a survey of shark populations which would be 'essential', would 'not be cheap' and 'must be done properly'. 'We haven't had a stock assessment done on the target species in Queensland properly ever,' he said. 'Getting that done is absolutely critical now'. 'At the end of the day our approach is to do the best research possible.' Whether that research informs decision making or not, however, is a minister's prerogative. The primary industries minister said he stood by his comments the shark control plan was backed by science in the wake of Simpfendorfer's resignation. 'The Crisafulli Government makes no apology for reaffirming the purpose of the Shark Control Management Plan 2025-2029 Plan to prioritise the safety of people above all else,' Perrett said. The minister said research showed and a recent KPMG report confirmed that 'traditional methods (nets and drum lines) are still the most effective way of protecting swimmers'. 'Until the new technology is scientifically proven as effective at protecting beach goers as traditional methods, we will continue to invest in what keeps Queenslanders and our beaches safe,' he said.
The Guardian
26-05-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Queensland's shark control plan facing court challenge and federal intervention, experts say
The expansion of Queensland's lethal shark control program will be challenged in court – should it escape a looming entanglement with federal laws – according to marine scientists and policy experts. The Queensland government announced plans to pump $88m over four years into the state's shark management plan, which would see shark nets and baited drumlines rolled out at more beaches, as well as the expanded use of non-lethal technology such as drone surveillance. The Crissafuli government announced its plan was one that 'prioritised beach goers' safety' which it said was 'put at risk' by the previous government to 'appease radical agendas'. 'It's clear the program had lost its way under previous Labor governments who failed to act and put people after the demands of environmental activists,' primary industries minister Tony Perrett said in a statement. But Humane World for Animals marine biologist Lawrence Chlebeck said the LNP was 'simply playing politics' with a highly emotive issue, describing their shark policy as a 'thinly veiled ruse' to appear supportive of the fishing industry by picking a legal fight 'they know they'll lose'. Many commercial anglers are clamouring for more sharks to be culled amid rising rates of depredation of their catch. Chlebeck confirmed HWA was already looking into a legal challenge – but federal intervention could mean that it 'may not even come to that'. As well as catching and culling target sharks, Queensland's shark nets and drumlines kill, injure and entangle non-target species. Chlebeck said public data showed that last year 1,639 animals were caught in the program – fewer than half of which were targeted sharks – including 22 whales and dolphins, 37 turtles and 46 rays. More than 980 animals were killed. Queensland's shark control program has been running since 1962 and is grandfathered into the federal Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, designed to protect threatened species. But Chlebeck said that exemption comes with a clause that the shark control program be assessed if it is expanded and shown to have a significant impact on threatened species 'The catch of protected species like whales and dolphins, the catch of threatened species like marine turtles and a number of shark species, including the critically endangered grey nurse, that could and most likely will open it up to review under the EPBC Act,' he said. 'The Queensland state government, they know all of this, so if they really want to push forward with these plans, they're going to come into conflict with the federal government and the new federal environment minister – which may or may not have been their plan all along.' But Chlebeck said the state's 'bluster' would end up 'opening up their own program to a scrutiny it has never before faced'. And the marine biologist has form when it comes to lethal shark control in Queensland. Sign up to Breaking News Australia Get the most important news as it breaks after newsletter promotion In 2019 the then Humane Society International had the state's plans for the lethal use of nets and drumlines in the Great Barrier Reef quashed by the federal court of Australia, with a judge ruling the scientific evidence presented was 'overwhelming' that the program's culling of sharks did 'not reduce the risk of unprovoked shark interactions'. University of Sydney associate professor of public policy and expert in the politics of shark attacks, Chris Pepin-Neff, agreed the Queensland government's announcement was more about taking culture wars to the open water than implementing evidence-backed policy. 'I think there's no doubt that the Queensland government believes that this is kind of a war on woke,' Pepin-Neff said. 'This is definitely a tough-on-sharks kind of policy decision and it includes killing sharks – and making sure everyone knows that they're killing sharks – as a way to provide political cover.' 'There's no real way to interpret this other than that the politicians have decided that they are going to win elections by killing sharks'. A spokesperson for the federal environment department confirmed the Queensland shark control program was exempt from the EPBC Act 'in its current form … as it was in operation prior to commencement of the act'. 'It is the responsibility of the Queensland Government to ensure any changes to its program are still covered by the exemption and refer any action that requires an approval under the EPBC Act,' the spokesperson said. The state government was contacted for comment.
ABC News
25-05-2025
- ABC News
More shark nets, drumlines, drones outlined in $88m government investment but legality of move questioned
A multi-million-dollar boost to Queensland's shark control — the biggest investment in the program's history — looks to protect beachgoers with "innovative technologies". But some are questioning if the move is even legal. Over the next four years, the Queensland government will pour an additional $88.228 million into the Shark Control Management Plan 2025-2029. It said the new plan "combines proven safety measures like shark nets and drumlines" with new tech including "drone surveillance and whale-deterrent measures", rolling out from July this year and to receive regular maintenance. "The program includes increased servicing of shark control equipment to 365 days a year, weather permitting," Minister for Primary Industries Tony Perrett said on Sunday. The minister said the investment was backed by science, however not-for-profit Sea Shepherd Australia described the move as "a dangerous escalation" of the program. "Today's announcement is big and bold, it puts swimmer safety first," Mr Perrett said. "I have said time and time again, the best science must inform our actions when it comes to [the Department of Agriculture and] Fisheries." The investment follows two recent shark-related fatalities in Queensland, after school chaplain Luke Walford was killed while spearfishing at Humpy Island and 17-year-old surf life-saver Charlize Zmuda was injured while swimming at Bribie Island. Mr Perrett said "striking the right balance between ensuring swimmer safety and maintaining a healthy marine environment" was vital to uphold the reputation of Queensland's $33 billion tourism industry "as a safe place to enjoy some of the best beaches in the world". The new plan accepted recommendations made by an evaluation of the shark control program, which the government said had consulted marine experts. "The report found it's likely shark control equipment, such as drumlines and nets, contributed to substantially lower shark attacks where it is operational," the minister's statement said. More research will be undertaken as part of the plan, including how the control measures impact specific shark species. However Sea Shepard Australia's Jonathan Clark said the new shark nets and drumlines would present dangers for "countless marine animals" and could also "increase risks to swimmers". Mr Clark said the minister "is pushing a stone-age 'kill them all' approach that will devastate marine life". The conservationist was alarmed by the new program, which he said "may breach federal law". "Under Section 43B(3) of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, any enlargement or intensification of the Queensland Shark Control Program could be deemed illegal," Mr Clark said. When asked if Sea Shepherd Australia would be taking action legal against the Queensland government, he said "it's early days for us yet, but I certainly hope so". He said two fatalities had occurred near drumlines in Queensland waters over the past five years, describing the equipment as attracting large sharks to shore and therefore increasing risk. "These lethal methods don't protect people … Minister Perrett is ignoring the science, legal risks, and public safety, while intensifying a program that should have been phased out years ago," Mr Clark said. "We can absolutely stand by our belief that those devices make beaches less safe — this view has been around for a long time and is supported by data and science. "We need to have the shark nets removed, the drumlines ultimately have to go, and we have to get into the modern ideas of using that technology such as drones, shark barriers, and really good public education." Mr Clark said drones and other new technology could be used to phase out older methods. "We applaud the use of drones and any expansion in the use of drones because they do make beaches safer," he said. The information provided by drones could help make informed decisions when it comes to entering the water, according to Mr Clark. "But in effect, it means nothing while the government continues with shark nets and drumlines, and the whole point of developing the non-lethal technologies is to get rid of these antiquated shark culling devices," he said. Potential locations for the expanded program have been identified based on the presence of Surf Life Saving Queensland, and data indicating a growth in beach use. The Queensland government has identified seven possible beaches for traditional shark control measures, including: For the expanded drone program over 2025-2026, six potential locations have been earmarked: The beaches will now undergo further detailed assessment from "stakeholders and expert scientists", as well as community consultation.
