Trials underway on Sunshine Coast beaches could soon see more-humane measures introduced to augment controversial shark nets and drumlines.
The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries has been trialling SharkSmart drones and catch alert drumlines since September 2020, with the Coast being one of the state’s trial locations. Noosa was added more recently.
It’s hoped the measures could help improve beach safety while reducing unnecessary deaths of marine life. Since January this year, 85 animals have been caught in Sunshine Coast shark nets and drumlines, but only 57 of those were sharks.
The latest Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) figures show the bycatch also included seven turtles, seven mammals and other creatures, including rays.
Since June last year, shark control devices in the region have caught only 46 sharks larger than 2m – the length deemed to be a danger to humans.
Shark nets and drumlines have a long and complex history, protecting human swimmers but also killing what conservationists say are too many marine animals as well.
Two humpback whale rescues on the same day in July this year – one on the Sunshine Coast at Marcoola and another on the Gold Coast at Kirra – again ignited calls to remove all shark control equipment from Queensland beaches to protect these mammals on their annual winter journey along eastern Australia, as well as other marine life.
Greens Senator Peter Whish-Wilson also raised his voice against ‘outdated’ shark nets and drumlines in March this year, to ensure better protection of endangered marine life.
He initiated a parliamentary inquiry held in 2017 into shark mitigation and deterrence measures in Australia, and specifically the use of mesh nets in NSW and Queensland.
Currently, shark nets and drumlines are installed on 24 Sunshine Coast beaches.
Both nets and drumlines sit 500m offshore and are designed to catch sharks that pass through the area. The shark control nets span up to 200m in length and 6m in depth.
Tiger, bull and (Great White) white sharks are targeted and killed along the Queensland coastline.
They are just three of 19 species on the State Government’s cull list of dangerous sharks.
Marine researchers believe SharkSmart drones and catch alert drumlines are a small step towards eventually removing shark nets and drumlines, and demonstrate the state government’s interest in new technologies and openness to change.
In late July, the Palaszczuk Government announced a $2 million annual investment in the SharkSmart Drone Trial until 2025. The drone trial is separate from the shark net and drumline program and operates in separate areas of beach.
The drones are flown over the surf break by drone-licensed Surf Life Saving Queensland staff.
DAF shark control program research and policy coordinator Tracey Scott-Holland said the trial program was designed to augment current measures rather than replace them.
“Drones can play a role in detecting sharks and managing the risks to water users,” she said.
“It is also helping to build our knowledge of shark behaviour and movement and adding to our scientific understanding of other marine animals.
“Through our trial, we have found (drones) are also able to advance the safety of water users by assisting the work of surf lifesavers in spotting other marine hazards such as rips and helping in beach rescue operations.”
The current trials operate on Saturdays, Sundays, public holidays and school holidays.
In the first phase of the trial – from September 2020 to October 2021, a total of 1589 flights were made from Sunshine Coast beaches.
Three sharks were spotted in that time, with only one off Alexandra Headland being large enough to be deemed a danger to swimmers.
DAF is also trialling catch alert drumlines, which are similar to the Shark Management Alert In Real Time (SMART) drumlines under trial in New South Wales since 2015.
The new drumlines are set up in the early morning and collected in the evening, preventing sharks being unnecessarily caught overnight.
Once a target shark is captured, it is tagged, towed out to sea and released rather than culled.
“The Queensland Government is committed to reviewing and adapting the program in line with emerging science and community expectations,” Ms Scott-Holland said.
“However, changes are not going to be made until the alternative has been tested and proven suitable to Queensland conditions.”
University of the Sunshine Coast shark researcher and conservationist Dr Bonnie Holmes wants to see the shark nets and drumlines removed from the water, but she added that if they were to remain, the programs needed to be refined.
“I come from Adelaide. There is no shark program down there and there is a very healthy population of white sharks,” she said.
“It’s something you just know, and you have a healthy respect (for). You go into their environment and there are risks associated with that.
“There is a public perception about safety that has to be addressed and there is lots of money associated with tourism in Queensland.
“People will always want to surf, swim, boat, dive … it comes back to the understanding of risk and acceptance of risk when you use those habitats.”
Whale rescue update
The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries has clarified information surrounding the rescue of two whales at Bokarina Beach.
Two whales, believed to be a mother and calf, were freed from a shark net by the Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol’s Marine Animal Release Team (MART) on Thursday, October 6.
MART unpicked the net using specifically-designed equipment, and the whales swam away freely.
Beachside residents believe the whales had become entangled overnight or earlier that morning.
A DAF spokesperson said the incident was considered a mobile entanglement involving the nearby Wurtulla Beach shark net that had moved into the Bokarina Beach zone due to rough sea conditions.
There is no shark control program equipment at Bokarina.
The spokesperson said the Bokarina operation to free the two whales marked a total of 15 whales successfully released from 14 incident responses.
All whales were released alive.
For Sunshine Coast beaches using shark control equipment, see the interactive map on the DAF website.
– additional reporting by Shirley Sinclair
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