Shark nets and drumlines

Shark nets

Large mesh nets are set parallel to the beach to catch sharks more than 2 metres long. Nets are not used within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.

We have listed below the key facts about how shark nets are constructed and maintained (refer to the diagram below). They are:

• 124 to 186 metres long, with a mesh size of 500mm
• attached to floats and drop 6 metres deep into the water
• anchored to the sea floor to ensure they stay in place
• installed offshore away from water users
• set according to the prevailing tides and currents of the area
• serviced regularly by independent contractors, weather permitting.
• removed from the water for maintenance and replaced at least once every 21 days.

Target shark species caught in nets are removed and euthanised. Non-target shark species are removed from equipment and released alive whenever possible.

View the maps of shark control equipment in Queensland.

Find catch data from shark nets.

Diagram of a shark net

Drumlines

Drumlines catch actively feeding sharks using bait attached to shark fishing hooks. Drumlines are used across the Queensland coastline including in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.

Drumlines are:

• installed offshore away from water users
• serviced regularly by independent contractors, weather permitting
• removed from the water for maintenance and are replaced at least once every 21 days.

In the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, if a bull, tiger or white shark is captured on a drumline, the contractor will tag the shark, relocate it and release it, whenever possible and safe to do so. All other sharks and animals are released whenever possible.

For all other coastal areas outside of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, target shark species captured on drumlines are removed and euthanised. Non-target shark species and other animals are released alive whenever possible.

View the maps of shark control equipment in Queensland.

Find catch data from drumlines.

Diagram of a drumline

Also consider:

• viewing the maps of shark control equipment in Queensland
• finding out what you can do if you see marine animals caught in nets or drumlines.
• searching catch data for nets and drumlines.
• reading about our shark management plan.
• finding out how we minimise environmental impacts.