Shark Control Program
About the program

On this page:

About the program
Equipment
Research and development
Further information

 

About the program

Prior to 1962, regular shark attacks at Queensland beaches led the State Government to commission an investigation into the most practical and cost-effective methods of preventing shark attacks.

Trials were first conducted in south-east Queensland using baited hooks (known as drumlines) and large mesh fishing nets. The trials clearly demonstrated the effectiveness of the equipment, which was subsequently introduced at major beaches along the Queensland coast.

The Shark Control Program (SCP) relies on nets or drumlines, or a combination of both, to minimise the threat of shark attack on humans in particular locations. It is not designed to provide a distinct barrier between sharks and humans.

Whilst there is considerable support for the SCP from the community, there is also general concern about other marine animals (bycatch or non-target species) getting caught in the equipment.

The Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries (DPI&F) is aware of the need to reduce the inadvertent impacts of the SCP on other marine animals without compromising human safety. Bycatch levels are carefully monitored in conjunction with other agencies and DPI&F is continuing research into minimising impacts on non-target species.

Equipment

Nets

Nets do not prevent sharks from entering a particular area. They are, however, intended to catch 'resident sharks' and sharks that move through an area while feeding on bait fish.

The SCP large mesh nets are specifically designed to catch sharks over 2 m in length. The SCP aims to reduce the number of potentially dangerous sharks in particular areas rather than creating an impenetrable barrier against shark attack.

Nets are manufactured to DPI&F specifications and are 186 m in length. Most nets have a depth of 6 m and a mesh size of 500 mm. View diagram (  PDF - 120kB)

The nets are set adjacent to the shoreline according to the prevailing tides and currents. Their distance from shore is determined by topographical features of the area and sea conditions. Equipment is usually placed far enough offshore to prevent human and shark interaction.

Drumlines

Drumlines catch actively feeding sharks using a shark hook suspended from a large plastic float, which in turn is anchored to the sea bed. Only fresh, natural bait is used to catch the sharks. View diagram (  PDF - 72 kB)

Servicing of equipment

SCP equipment is serviced every second day,weather permitting, by independent contractors who work under Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol supervision. All fishing equipment is removed from the water for maintenance and replaced with fresh equipment at least once every 21 days.

Contractor's duties also include assisting with collaborative research projects associated with the SCP and providing a 24-hour, 7-day service in case of emergency.

The contractor's procedures and performance is reviewed regularly.

Research and development

DPI&F supports research into SCP operations. A number of ongoing projects are examining the effectiveness of the program, investigating ways of reducing the accidental capture of other marine animals (bycatch), as well as creating a greater understanding of sharks that inhabit the inshore areas of Queensland.

Electromagnetic Shark Barriers

Electromagnetic Shark barriers have been widely discussed and researched since the technology was first developed inSouth Africa in the 1980s.  This technology is the basis of commercially available personal devices that are used, predominantly by recreational and commercial divers in high risk areas, to reduce the risk of shark attack.  The use of the technology on a broader scale to protect larger areas is still considered to be in the very early experimental stage.  The technology currently has a range of engineering and logistical issues that need to be addressed before it can be used for anything other than personal protection.

If these issues can be overcome and the technology eventually proven to be effective on a large scale then it may have application in some sheltered bays in Queensland.  However, at this time this technology is unlikely to have any application in open ocean surf conditions in its present form.  Despite concerns about the ability of the technology to deliver broad-scale protection, the Shark Control Program has an ongoing collaborative association with the developers of the technology and closely monitors developments in this area.

Research

During the last 5 years research into shark catching technologies has concentrated mainly on reducing non-target catch whilst maintaining the shark deterrent nature of the current mixed fishing strategy of using nets and baited drum-lines.

Specific research initiatives and their results have included:

• Advances in acoustic alarm/pinger technology for reducing entanglement of marine mammals.  Currently the program is awaiting delivery of the latest development in acoustic deterrent devices, the “SaveWave’ dolphin pinger. This is a multi frequency pinger used world wide in commercial fisheries developed and manufactured in Holland.  Monitoring of acoustic alarm/pinger technology will continue in an attempt to find effective methods to reduce marine animal entanglements.
• The introduction of plastic “hook guards”, which have been effective at reducing turtle interactions with drum-lines in southern Queensland while not affecting shark catches.
• The introduction of temperature data loggers on Gold Coast nets to correlate shark and by-catch activity, sea temperature is providing insights into the seasonal activity of sharks and by-catch species.
• In 2004 a tag and release program for harmless shark species was established to help understand their behaviour upon release.
• A recently concluded trial comparing two hook drum line rigs and single hook rigs indicated no difference in the shark catching ability of either rig although the single hook rig resulted in reduced turtle interactions.
• Alternative baits, drum line rigs and net modifications continue to be assessed.

The March 2006 review of the Shark Control Program recommended that future research focus on improving shark gear effectiveness and reducing non-target take.  Subsequent to that review, the following three programs that aim to improve the existing deterrent/catching technologies have commenced.

1. A trail comparing a top-set and a bottom-set shark net conducted on Mackay beaches showed that a top-set net was equally efficient as a bottom set net in terms of shark capture, but the top-set net caught less by-catch.  As a result the use of a trial bottom set net was discontinued

2. A large statistical comparison of bait type and drum line configuration was implemented subsequent to the review of the program in 2006.  This involved changing some the fishing gear on the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and Rainbow Beach.  These trials are still underway and are designed to test effectiveness of chain and stainless steel traces as well as mullet and shark as bait on traditional drum lines.

3. Scavenging of drum line baits by marine animals reduces the effectiveness of baited drum lines.  Mesh bait guards are currently being trialled at three areas and have already proven effective at reducing scavenging of baits by dolphins.  Initial results suggest that they have also improve shark catching efficiency, although the trial still has some time to run before statistically conclusive results can be demonstrated.

The department is also in regular contact with the Natal Sharks Board in South Africa and NSW Fisheries, which also have active shark control measures in place.  In addition, officers of the department regularly meet with members of the public, scientists and inventors both locally and internationally, do discuss ideas for minimising shark attack on Queensland beaches and reducing the non-target capture of marine life.  Despite all these collaborations and discussions there has not been any significant development in new “shark proofing” technologies, and traditional capture methods using nets and drum-lines remain the most effective protective measures.

DPI&F's ongoing commitment to collaborative research programs with academic institutions includes investigations into bull whaler movements in canals and feeding strategies of bull whalers.

In addition, DPI&F conducts ongoing assessment of the SCP’s performance to ensure it is meeting its aims.

Effects on other marine animals

While the methods developed by the SCP provide human protection, small numbers of other marine animals (non-target species) are accidentally captured in SCP equipment.

In recognition of the importance of these accidental captures, DPI&F is committed to investigating all avenues to minimise impacts on non-target species.

Comprehensive marine animal release contingency plans have been developed, including the implementation of the Marine Animal Release Team (MART). MART is made up of volunteers from the Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol who undertake the release of marine animals (mainly humpback whales) during the whale migration.

Community support for the MART project is well documented with the Gold Coast City Council lifeguard service, Surf Life Saving Queensland, the Australian Whale Conservation Society, SeaWorld and local tourism bodies supporting this initiative.

MART also developed the concept of volunteer whale watchers who reside in high rise buildings along Gold Coast's beaches. The volunteers are recruited, equipped and trained to identify and confirm entanglements. MART members can now effectively deploy resources to give the entangled animal the best chance of survival. The volunteer whale watching program has resulted in a 90% reduction in false reports, and has produced successful outcomes with 19 out of 23 animals being released safely in the past 10 years.

In 2003, the Queensland Government committed $500 000 to a 5-year research project examining measures that could reduce the risks to other marine animals, while preserving the integrity of the SCP to protect human life.

Other strategies used by the SCP to minimise bycatch include:

• using drumlines instead of nets when possible
• releasing non-dangerous sharks
• escorting whales past the nets by positioning vessels between the whales and the equipment during the humpback whale migration season (June to November)
• fitting all nets with electronic warning devices (pingers) to warn whales and dolphins of the presence of the nets
• fitting deflectors on drumline hooks at certain locations which reduce the number of turtles captured
• using alternative baits which reduce dolphin and turtle captures.
  

Further information

Statistics on sharks caught in the SCP can be found on Queensland Treasury's Office of Economic and Statistical Research website.

All other requests for information must be in writing and sent to:

The Manager
Shark Control Program
DPI&F
GPO Box 46
Brisbane Qld 4001

Fax: +61 7 3229 6079

or

DPI&F Call Centre
Email: callweb@dpi.qld.gov.au
Fax: +61 7 3404 6900

 

For more information about sharks and shark control visit the following websites:

Natal Sharks Board

Australian Shark Attack File

International Shark Attack File

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Last updated 15 May 2006