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Our plan and scientific working group

Queensland shark management plan 2021–2025

Our shark management plan sets out how we will continue to work to:

  • reduce the risk of shark bites through shark nets and drumlines
  • research and trial new shark mitigation technologies
  • boost community education on SharkSmart behaviours.

The plan includes key initiatives to be delivered by the shark control program and an implementation schedule, which will be reviewed and updated annually.

Whitsundays plan

In late 2018 following a cluster of shark bites in Cid Harbour in the Whitsundays, the Queensland Government outlined a five-point Whitsundays plan to improve safety.

Shark control program scientific working group

This group provides expert advice to the shark control program on:

  • alternative shark mitigation technologies
  • shark species
  • shark research
  • program management.

The group operates under a terms of reference.

From 2017–2019, a record of each scientific working group meeting was included in meeting minutes. From 2020 onward, a record of each scientific working group meeting is included in a communique.

Members of the scientific working group

Member

Role

Organisation

Sian Breen

Chair

Department of Agriculture and Fisheries

Michael Mikitis

Manager Shark Control Program

Department of Agriculture and Fisheries

Dr Tracey Scott-Holland

Secretariat

Department of Agriculture and Fisheries

Dr Jonathan Mitchell

DAF Scientist

Department of Agriculture and Fisheries

Dr Carley Kilpatrick

Department of Environment and Science representative

Department of Environment and Science

Dr Colin Simpfendorfer

Independent Scientist

James Cook University

Julia Chandler

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority

Peta Lawlor

Industry Representative

Surf Life Saving Queensland

Richard Fitzpatrick

Conservation Representative and Independent Scientist

Biopixel TV; James Cook University

Angela Freeman

Industry Representative

Tourism Representative

Dr Adam Smith

Townsville Local Marine Advisory Committee

Reef Ecologic, Townsville Local Marine Advisory Committee

Marcel Green

Program Leader Shark Programs

NSW Department of Primary Industries

Dr Claudia Benham

Social scientist, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences

The University of Queensland

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