"THE SHARK CONTROL PROGRAM IS RESPONSIBLE FOR OVER 90,000 MARINE LIFE ENTANGLEMENTS IN QLD ALONE"

The Queensland Shark Control Program (SCP) is a $58 million government-run program that aims to reduce the risk of shark bites in Queensland coastal waters (Department of Primary Industries). 

The SCP began in 1937 in New South Wales, and was later established in Queensland waters in 1962, following a string of several fatal shark bites within the state.

The shark control equipment utilised within Queensland waters are shark nets and baited drumlines.  Shark control equipment can be found in 86 beach locations within the state. In Queensland, beach safety measures and equipment have not been altered or changed since their first establishment in 1937, nearly 100 years ago...

This program is designed to catch and kill target shark species, as well as any shark species that is over 2-metres in length.

Target species include: 

• Tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier)
• Bull shark  ( Carcharhinus leucas) 
• White shark (Carcharodon carcharias) 
• Australian Blacktip Shark (Carcharhinus tilstoni)
• Common Blacktip Shark (Carcharhinus limbatus)
• Dusky Whaler Shark (Carcharhinus obscurus)
• Grey Reef Shark (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos)

Contractors are meant to check each shark net and baited drumline device before dawn, daily (weather permitting). 

If a target shark has been caught within the equipment, that animal will be killed. Contractors have been filmed stabbing sharks in the head in an attempt to kill the animal, or gutting the shark alive. This shark will be killed while still attached to the device, which is located 500m from the shore, often at popular swimming beaches. This process often attracts other sharks into the area. 

This dead shark will then be towed by the tail and dumped out to sea.

In Queensland waters, shark nets are made from a mesh-like net material that range between 124m to 186m in length, 6m wide and sit in 10m-12m of water. This net is positioned 500m from the shore. 

This device is often used to "protect" entire stretches of coastlines that are often up-to 1 to 2 kilometres in length.

Shark nets are not a barrier. Shark nets do not enclosure an area. Animals can swim under or around them. It has been seen that 40% of captured sharks are those swimming peacefully back out to sea from inside the nets. 

This devices has been proven to have no influence on beach safety.

There are 54 shark nets in Queensland, ranging from Tweed Heads to Mackay.

In Queensland waters, baited drumlines consist of a large baited fishing hook that is attached to a bouy that sits on the surface of the water. This device is chained to the sea floor. Baited drumlines are located 500m from the shore.

The drumlines are often baited with mullet, and/or shark pups, and are designed to attract, hook and kill target shark species. If an animal becomes hooked within the equipment, it will remain here until the contracted fishermen arrive to either release or kill the species. 

If the species caught is a target shark, it will be immediately killed. If it is a non-target species, like a dolphin, turtle or stingray, it will be released whenever possible. This equipment is often not checked for several days, so a large proportion of the time, the animal will be deceased before the contractors arrive. 

While baited drumlines are more effective in hooking target species when compared to shark nets, this device is actively baiting the water and attracting predatory sharks towards the equipment, which is located 500m from the shore, often at popular swimming beaches. 

Older and larger predatory sharks have learnt to avoid baited drumlines, widely attracting curious and younger juvenile individuals that are still learning how to accurately identify a prey item. 

There are 361 baited drumlines in Queensland, ranging from Tweed Heads to Cairns.