With the beginning of whale migration season, our ongoing advocacy regarding Queensland’s Shark Control Program on behalf of residents, organisations and stakeholders, including Oceans For All, continues, including on a potential trial for whale deterrent technologies to prevent net entanglements.

As previously raised, this has focused on improving swimmer safety while reducing impacts on marine wildlife, particularly during the season where entanglements in shark control equipment remain a concern for our community.

2026–27 Budget requests

Included in our annual State Budget submissions were requests for:

  • investment in safe alternatives to shark nets to be deployed during whale migration season;
  • installation of signage prior to the 2026 migration season to assist the public in accurately reporting entanglements on Queensland beaches where nets are deployed;
  • prioritised funding to expand the SharkSmart drone program from weekend-only to all-week coverage on beaches already included in the Shark Management Program, including Noosa, to improve monitoring and inform assessment of alternative shark mitigation measures.

The Minister provided the following responses:

Investment in safe alternatives to shark nets

As previously advised, a framework for the systematic identification, trial and assessment of new shark mitigation technologies and management practices will be developed and implemented under the Shark Management Plan 2025–2029. Suitable sites for trials of alternative gear will be determined once the framework has been developed and alternatives suitable for trial have been identified. Your support for Noosa as a trial site is noted and has been shared with the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) for their consideration.

Installation of signage prior to the 2026 whale migration season

DPI officers advise that signage is in development for this year’s whale migration season to assist members of the public to correctly report entanglements in shark control equipment. Historically, the first humpback whales are usually seen between April and May in Queensland, with peak northbound migration in June and July. It is anticipated that signage will be in place at this time.

Prioritised funding to extend the SharkSmart drone program

The Shark Management Plan 2025–2029 commits to expanding the SharkSmart drone program and the Queensland Government has provided additional funding in this regard. However, the priority for this program is to expand and cover more beaches across Queensland, where the use of drones is deemed suitable, not to intensify operations at current beaches. I note that Noosa is already a SharkSmart drone location with coverage expanded to both Noosa Main Beach and Noosa West.

We welcome confirmation that signage will be introduced for the upcoming whale migration season, with a further update from the Minister’s office advising this is expected in late May. However, preventing entanglements before they occur remains critical, and we continue to advocate for practical alternatives to be identified and trialled as soon as possible.

Question on Notice

As previously raised, the KPMG review of the Shark Control Program recommended that a framework for the systematic identification, trial and assessment of alternative shark mitigation technologies be delivered in the first year of the new Shark Management Plan, introduced in 2025.

Given this, we recently asked a Question on Notice seeking clarification on:

  • when the trial decision-making framework to assess alternative shark mitigation technologies and strategies will be delivered;
  • what criteria will be used to determine whether alternatives can be assessed as effective;
  • whether whale deterrent technologies will be considered or deployed in Noosa during this migration season.

We will provide a further update once a response is received.

Ongoing advocacy

We will continue advocating on behalf of residents, organisations and stakeholders for practical, evidence-based shark mitigation measures that improve swimmer safety while reducing impacts on marine wildlife during whale migration season.

Further information

For previous Shark Control Program updates, visit:
www.sandybolton.com/?s=shark

To contact the relevant Minister, email:
primaryindustries@ministerial.qld.gov.au

Please copy our office via noosa@parliament.qld.gov.au and forward any response you receive.