Queensland’s Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority will no longer be permitted to cull sharks following the Administrative Appeals Tribunal decision.

April 2, 2019

Sharks will no longer be culled on Great Barrier Reef following a court challenge to the Queensland government’s shark control program by the Humane Society.

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority has been ordered to make a raft of changes to its shark control program following the Administrative Appeals Tribunal decision on Tuesday.

In its decision, the tribunal says the scientific evidence about “the lethal component” of the shark control program “overwhelming” showed it does not reduce the risk of unprovoked shark attack. 

“We are satisfied that the euthanasia of any species of sharks … caught on drum lines should be a last resort and not occur as a matter of practice,” the tribunal decision said.

“It is plain from the evidence given in these proceedings that Queensland’s lethal (program) is out of step with national and international developments.”

Humane Society International campaigner Lawrence Chlebeck says non-lethal technology is the way forward for shark control in the Great Barrier Reef.

“This is a massive victory for sharks and marine wildlife,” he said in a statement.

The park will now only be permitted to authorise the euthanasia of sharks caught on drum lines on animal welfare grounds.

The target shark list of 19 species is also to be removed from the current permit and all tiger, bull and white sharks caught on drum lines are to be tagged before being released.

Additionally, sharks caught on drum lines are to be attended to as soon as possible – preferably within 24 hours of capture – and tagged sharks are to be relocated offshore.

SMART or Shark-Management-Alert-in-Real-Time drum lines are also to be trialled and research into alternative non-lethal shark control and the tiger shark population is to be implemented.

The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries manages 173 drum lines about 500 metres offshore at popular beaches up down the world heritage-listed marine park.