Department puts bite on risky sharks
ALMOST 105 sharks were caught in drumlines off the Townsville coast in the past financial year, with the biggest being a 3.4m tiger shark.
Department of Agriculture and Fisheries data reveals 54 drumlines were installed along beaches at Townsville and Magnetic Island, including Pallarenda Beach, Kissing Point, Radical Bay, Florence Bay, Nelly Bay, Picnic Bay and Horseshoe Bay.
A Fisheries spokesman said the number of drumlines off Townsville had remained the same since 2005.
“Drumlines are effective at catching species such as tiger sharks, which are more prevalent in North Queensland, whereas shark nets are a more effective measure for species such as the aggressive bull shark, which are more prevalent in southeast Queensland,” he said. “Research into the types of sharks in certain locations and the positioning of nets and/ or drumlines accordingly has also made the program more efficient at catching target species.”
The data shows that during the past financial year, 25 sharks caught in drumlines off Townsville were under 2m long and 79 sharks measured more than 2m.
In the previous financial year, 61 sharks under 2m were caught and 48 over 2m were caught.
The Fisheries spokesman said tiger, bull and white sharks were considered to be the three most dangerous in Queensland waters.
“Sharks more than 2m long are particularly dangerous and more likely to cause fatal injuries,” he said.
The spokesman said seven shark species were recently removed from the Shark Control Program’s list of target species following a recommendation from the Program’s Scientific Working Group.
“The seven species include blacktip reef whaler, Galapagos whaler, school shark, thresher shark, pelagic thresher shark, big- eye thresher shark and whitetip reef shark,” he said.
Twenty- three shark species have been reclassified as nontarget sharks since 2015.
“All non- target species including some non- dangerous shark species caught in shark control equipment are released alive wherever possible.”
The spokesman said the department continued to monitor progress of alternative shark deterrent technology trials in New South Wales.
“If new technologies are shown to be effective in preventing marine life fatalities and are practical for use, they will be considered as part of the program,” he said. “Based on the evidence to date, traditional capture methods remain the most effective measures to reduce the risk of shark attack.”