Shark control equipment is to return to waters within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park from today to boost swimmer safety.
Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries, Mark Furner said drumlines were being re-installed after negotiations with the Federal Government and workplace health and safety discussions with shark contractors.
“These are the exact same drumlines that were removed after an Administrative Appeals Tribunal and Federal Court decision imposed a permit that could not be complied with, forcing their removal,” Mr Furner said.
“Queenslanders and tourists who enjoy swimming in our coastal waters, our workers and contractors who we want to see come home safe every day and the tourism industry will benefit from this common-sense decision.”
He said a total of 120 drumlines would be returned to the marine park, from Cairns to the Capricorn Coast.
“This is in addition to drumlines that were reinstalled in State waters adjacent to the Marine Park last year, and restores the total number of drumlines to 203 across 27 beaches in Central and North Queensland, the same as what was originally in place before the Federal Court decision,” Mr Furner said.
He said the program restoration was made possible after the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) issued an amended permit that took into account workplace health and safety issues.
“Our preference has always been to continue the proven Shark Control Program in the reef, but this is a Federal park with Federal laws and Queensland must comply with the permit,” Mr Furner said.
“We wanted to put our drumlines back in and that is exactly what we are doing, with extra training and new procedures ensuring our contractors can safely comply with the new requirements.”
The Minister has also reminded the public to be shark smart by not swimming at dawn or dusk; always swimming in clear water and not throwing food scraps or fish waste overboard.
