The Queensland Crisafulli Government’s ‘new’ Shark Control Program—which will amp up the slaughter of sharks—looks like it was written in the 1900’s and flies in the face of conservation science while doing nothing to improve swimmer safety.   

 

What is the Shark Control Program? 

Currently, the program consists of 27 culling nets on beaches in southeast Queensland, and 383 lethal drumlines in use on beaches from the New South Wales border up to Cairns. Shark nets are not barriers, they are 150 metre-long fishing nets installed 500 metres off ocean beaches year-round and are designed to entangle and kill sharks.  

 Already the program is having a devastating impact on Queensland marine life and the Crisafulli Government wants to make it worse. In 2024 1,641 animals were entangled and hooked in the program , including 22 whales and dolphins, 37 turtles, and 46 rays. More than 980 were killed.  This is even happening on lethal drumlines in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.

While acting as death traps for wildlife, shark nets and lethal drumlines are incapable of reducing the risk of shark bite.  Unlike barriers and enclosures, the culling nets and drumlines do not stop sharks coming into shore. In fact, in trapping marine animals they are attracting sharks closer to shore.   

 

What can be used to protect swimmers? 

The good news is that the Queensland government has begun to invest in and trial non-lethal technologies that can reduce the risk of shark bite. Drone surveillance, the tagging and tracking of sharks, and education campaigns are all far more effective at reducing the risk. 

 

We need to put pressure on the QLD government 

The impact of shark culling is devastating for marine life. With more effective, scientifically proven solutions that can be implemented right now, that devastation is criminal. Help us keep the community safe and end the senseless killing of marine animals.  


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