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.
Read the
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.
- Communique 26-27 October 2022
- Communique 6 May 2022
- Communique 16 December 2021
- Communique 24 and 25 August 2021
- Communique 18 and 19 February 2021
- Communique 11 and 18 September 2020
- Communique 12 March 2020
- Minutes 14 June 2019
- Minutes 15 November 2018
- Minutes 5 April 2018
- Minutes 15 September 2017
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 |
Also consider:
- reading our research reports on the shark control program.
- searching catch data from nets and drumlines.
- finding out how we catch and detect sharks.
