Humane Society International (HSI) Australia and Australian Marine Conservation Society (AMCS) have today released a new 'shark culling counter' to keep the new Queensland Government publicly accountable for the number of marine animals entangled and hooked each year by Queensland's Shark Control Program (SCP).
The counter—which is publicly accessible via HSI Australia's dedicated web page—will be regularly updated using catch data from the Queensland Government's database, QFish.
'We're restarting the count under the new Queensland LNP Government, and we'll keep showing how many animals are senselessly killed until both humans and our marine life are protected together,' said Lawrence Chlebeck, Marine Biologist with HSI Australia.
The idea of tracking marine wildlife deaths comes after years of frustration at the Queensland Government's failure to implement far more effective and non-lethal solutions to improve public shark safety without the devastating impact on a variety of marine wildlife. The two organisations say the Crisafuli Government has an opportunity to take a fresh approach and modernise the program.
'Year after year we see the same tragic numbers of dead marine life all because of the misguided belief that the lethal drumlines and shark nets of the SCP keep beachgoers safe,' Chlebeck said.
'It's ludicrous to think that if you put a net in the water, or a baited hook in the ocean, that the only thing they'll catch will be the sharks that are targeted.'
In the past five years, 59 dolphins, 245 turtles, 217 rays and 44 whales have been caught on drumlines and entangled in the shark nets—many of these were found dead, but due to the injuries and trauma of hooking and entanglement, it is unlikely that those released alive will survive.
'These figures tell the true story of the program, and it's heartbreaking to know how many animals are dying just to make us feel safe. Our hope with the counter is for the Government and public to be more informed about what is happening in our beautiful marine environment, and specifically about how much death and destruction the Shark Control Program is causing in Queensland,' Chlebeck said.
A new Queensland government brings hope that modern technologies—including drones and tagged shark listening stations—will be widely implemented. The Queensland LNP has already stated that they are 'not opposed to using new methods to fulfil the primary objective of protecting community safety' and that they are 'receptive to considering non-lethal alternatives to existing shark control methods.'
Dr Leonardo Guida, shark scientist with AMCS, said, 'The Crisafulli Government has an opportunity to fully modernise and improve beach safety for Queenslanders and visitors alike with evidence-based solutions, the added bonus being zero risk to wildlife—it's a clear win-win.'
