SHARK DRONE MISSION FAILS
A Shark-spotting drone trial in North Queensland is yet to sight any sharks, despite hundreds of flights over the test areas.
The Queensland government’s Sharksmart trial, which kicked off on Magnetic Island and in Cairns in June, has detected no sharks. However, the same trial running in parts of the southeast from September last year has seen 184 sharks, with 35 estimated to be more than 2m long. Since the trial started in the North, drones have flown more than 90km, for an average period of 17 minutes, only seeing turtles, stingrays, manta rays and large fish like tuna or mackerel.
Surf Life Saving Queensland operates the drones, looking for sharks or to monitor shark movements and behaviour.
If a shark is seen, lifesavers warn the public and close the beach if needed.
A Department of
Agriculture and Fisheries spokeswoman said so far there had been no sharks seen or beach evacuations at Alma Bay or Palm Cove. “The trial is scheduled to end in North Queensland when stinger nets are returned to the water, expected to be some time in November 2021,” the spokeswoman said.
“An evaluation of the Sharksmart drone trials in North Queensland and southeast Queensland later this year will inform any future expansion.”
The spokeswoman said Fisheries Queensland was investigating options for drone flights to continue at all locations where stinger nets were not deployed until the evaluation is complete.
There are 30 drumlines installed in the Townsville region, including six at
Alma Bay.