An international marine conservation organisation has shared “heartbreaking” footage of a dead dolphin in a shark net off one of Queensland’s most popular beaches and called for alternative safety measures.
Sea Shepherd shark defence campaigner Rebecca Griffiths said the incident off Noosa was one of many avoidable marine tragedies this year.
Meanwhile, a Department of Primary Industries spokesperson said the state government’s priority was to keep people safe and that operational processes were being reviewed amid a commitment to minimise the impact of nets on non-target species.
Ms Griffiths explained how Sea Shepherd became aware of the dolphin.
“One of the local whale-watching boats reported that something was entangled in the shark net and one of our volunteers (Taylor Ladd-Hudson) was quickly notified through their network,” she said.
WARNING: The footage and image below may distress some readers
“They arrived on scene soon after and launched a drone to confirm the situation.
“Sadly, the drone footage revealed a dolphin that was badly entangled and already deceased.”
She said it was a despondent scene that was shared by the group on social media.
“Sea Shepherd is heartbroken to see yet another marine animal loses their life in these deadly shark nets,” she told Sunshine Coast News. “Dolphins are mammals who must reach the surface to breathe and we can only imagine the terror and suffering they endured as they drowned, trapped and helpless.”
QFish data revealed that 13 of 14 mammals caught in shark nets off the Sunshine Coast this year have died, including 11 dolphins and two whales. Other species, including turtles and rays, have also perished.
“These tragedies are not rare,” Ms Griffiths said. “These deaths and entanglements are entirely avoidable. Shark nets should never be in the ocean.
“Sea Shepherd opposes shark nets because they don’t protect ocean users. Shark nets are not barriers: they don’t reach the sea bed or stop sharks from entering swimming areas. What shark nets do is indiscriminately kill marine life.
“We want shark nets removed and replaced with modern, non-lethal alternatives backed by science, like drone surveillance for shark spotting and public education campaigns.”
Whales were recently caught in nets off Noosa, Marcoola and Mooloolaba.
Ms Griffiths said Sea Shepherd shared images like the one captured at Noosa “to raise public awareness of the reality of how ineffective yet cruel these shark nets are”.
The DPI spokesperson said the Shark Control Program received a call about the dolphin on Thursday afternoon.
“Shark Control Program contractors attended to the dolphin as soon as possible and unfortunately it was deceased,” they said.
The spokesperson said the state government was committed to protecting people in the water and it was reviewing its operations and investigating its safety options.
“Shark control equipment is in place to protect human safety but we are also dedicated to minimising the impact on whales and marine animals in Queensland’s waters,” they said.
“We continually review our operational processes and use the latest research and technology to minimise the impact of shark nets and drumlines on non-target sharks and other marine animals.”
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The Shark Control Program aims to minimise impact on other marine life by using shark control contractors to regularly check nets and drumlines for captured animals, and releasing non-target shark species and other animals alive whenever possible; using drumlines instead of nets where possible, as marine mammals are less likely to be entangled in drumlines; using electronic warning devices (pingers) to deter whales and dolphins from swimming near nets and drumlines; and using alternative baits or apparatus configurations to reduce the incidences of dolphins and turtles being caught on drumlines or in nets.
The program is also conducting a comparative trial of circle hooks and J hooks to assess the effect on catches of target sharks, non-target sharks and other marine animals.
There were some reports of a baby dolphin also being entangled at Noosa but that was not the case. There was a tuna and several small sharks also in the net.
A Sunshine Coast Council spokesperson said local authorities supported adoption of new technologies and backed a university research project to learn more about sharks in the area.
“The Shark Control Program is the responsibility of the Queensland Government,” they said.
“Sunshine Coast Council encourages research and adoption of new technologies and has provided funding for a research project by Dr Bonnie Holmes from UniSC into bull shark ecology and movements along the coast and in estuaries.
“This study will help to inform future ecosystem management and shark control initiatives.”
There have been 191 sharks caught on the Sunshine Coast this year, with 39 of them targeted.
Noosa mayor Frank Wilkie said the recent incident involving a whale in a shark net off Noosa “reinforced the need for the state government to consider a trial of removing the mesh nets during the winter migrating season”.
“Council endorsed a Mayoral Minute in July, requesting the state trial removing the mesh nets for the shark control program and use other non-lethal measures,” he said.
Conservation group Noosa Against Nets will hold a peaceful protest at Hastings Street on October 4, calling for shark nets to be removed.
