The Department for Agriculture and Fisheries has confirmed the Federal Government has committed $5 million to assist with the redeployment of the shark drum lines in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (GBRMP), plus an extra $1 million for the Whitsundays Community to assist funding of real-time alerts through a sightings app, drone surveillance and continued research of shark behaviour in the region. The QLD Government has committed a further $4 million to support transition to non-lethal shark control measures such as:

  • SMART drumline trials
  • Rebates to council to install swimmer safety netting
  • Piloting drone surveillance
  • Swimmer education

Contractors in the GBRMP will undergo training at the end of Jan, facilitated by Biopixel, NSW Fisheries and Aussafe. Once Aussafe have finalised the Standard Operating Procedures, it is expected that drum-lines will be re-deployed by the end of Feb 2020.

Please note: if it is deemed unsafe for the contractor to release captured sharks they will be euthanised.

For more information please go to: https://www.daf.qld.gov.au/business-priorities/fisheries/shark-control-program