Decision to add shark nets, drum lines to more Queensland beaches draws criticism

The Queensland authorities has pledged astir $90 cardinal to grow its shark power guidance program, drafting disapproval from experts and conservationists.

Seven beaches betwixt Palm Beach connected nan Gold Coast and Moore Park successful Bundaberg person been marked to person further nets and drumlines.

Six beaches betwixt Coolangatta and Agnes Waters have been identified for description of nan drone surveillance program.

In announcing nan plan, Primary Industries Minister Tony Perrett accused nan erstwhile Labor authorities of putting Queensland's world tourism estimation astatine consequence to "appease extremist agendas".

"We person a $33 cardinal tourism manufacture and, of course, erstwhile location is simply a shark attack, it does person important headlines," Perrett said.

"We make nary apology for putting quality information first."

Marine biologist Lawrence Chlebeck from Humane World for Animals told nan Brisbane Times nan description could expose nan Queensland programme to scrutiny nether nan national Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.

The Act restricts measures that effect threatened aliases endangered animals, nevertheless nan shark power programme predates nan 1999 legislation, truthful was ne'er assessed nether it.

"If nan programme is expanded and proven to proceed to person a important effect connected threatened species... that opens up nan programme to appraisal nether nan EPBC Act," Chlebeck said.

Unlike successful NSW, wherever shark nets are removed during whale migration season, Queensland's shark nets are installed year-round.

The NSW authorities has resisted calls from aggregate beachside councils to region them indefinitely.

The Queensland government's expanded scheme does see investigation into exertion to deter whales from nets and a study into shark organization sizes but conservationists are not convinced.

Envoy Foundation co-founder Andre Borell said nan group had advised nan authorities connected non-lethal, modern alternatives to nets and drumlines only a period agone but had been ignored.

"This is going to beryllium a bloodbath," Borell told 9News.

"This is simply a warfare connected sharks... a warfare connected each wildlife that happens to unrecorded successful nan ocean."

Environmental intelligence Dr Daryl McPhee from Bond University has besides questioned nan logistics of expanding nan program.

"It's going to beryllium a situation conscionable successful position of practicality," McPhee said.

"There's constraints regarding getting operators successful spot aliases expanding nan operation.

"Will location still beryllium shark bites successful Queensland? Unfortunately, yes.

"Will nan consequence of a shark wound stay low? Yes."

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