Application to continue the Queensland shark control program permit to operate in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park

Overview

The Queensland Shark Control Program (QSCP) is an initiative that has been in place since 1962, aimed at mitigating the risk of shark attacks at popular beaches within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. The program has been successful in preventing fatalities from shark attacks on protected beaches. The Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries has applied to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and the Department of National Parks, Sport and Recreation for permission to continue the deployment of shark control apparatus at various beaches. The program's operation is intended to protect public safety while allowing continued use of the marine park. Interested parties are invited to submit their comments on the program by 30 November 2015, although this notice does not indicate approval for the project. Public comments will be considered before any decisions are made regarding the application.

Scope and Application

The Queensland shark control program (the Program) permit, as outlined in the public notice issued under Regulation 75 of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Regulations 1983 (amendment 2008) and Section 15 of the Marine Park Regulations 2006 (QLD), applies to the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) for the continued deployment of shark control apparatus at selected beaches within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. These beaches are located in the Cairns/Cooktown, Townsville/Whitsunday, Mackay/Capricorn Management Areas, and include Ellis, Buchans, Clifton, Trinity Beaches, Palm Cove, Pallarenda Beach, Picnic, Nelly, Alma, Florence, Radical, Horseshoe Bays, Bucasia, Eimeo, Blacks Beaches, Farnborough, Yeppoon, Lammermoor, Kemp, Mullambin, Fisherman’s Beaches, Emu Park, Tanby Point, Cooee Bay, and Tannum Sands. The Program has been operational since 1962 with the aim of mitigating the risk of shark attacks, resulting in zero fatalities on protected beaches within the Marine Park. The notice invites public comment from those potentially affected by the Program, and submissions can be made to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority by 30 November 2015, although this notice does not signify approval of the project.

Key Provisions

The key provisions of the notice (sections 1-4) inform the public that the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries has applied for permission to continue the Queensland Shark Control Program (the Program) within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. This Program, which has been in operation since 1962, involves deploying shark control apparatus at popular beaches along Queensland's east coast to reduce the risk of shark attacks. The beaches in question are Ellis, Buchans, Clifton, Trinity, Palm Cove in Cairns; Pallarenda Beach and Picnic, Nelly, Alma, Florence, Radical and Horseshoe Bays in Townsville and Magnetic Island; Bucasia, Eimeo and Blacks Beaches in Mackay; Farnborough, Yeppoon, Lammermoor, Kemp, Mullambin, Fisherman’s Beaches, Emu Park, Tanby Point and Cooee Bay in Capricorn Coast; and Tannum Sands in Gladstone. The notice (section 5) specifies that any person, especially those who may be adversely affected by the Program, is invited to lodge written comments with the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) by 30 November 2015. This public consultation period is intended to allow interested parties to express their views on the Program. Submissions should be sent to GBRMPA at the specified address or email. The notice also clarifies that comments will not be treated as confidential unless explicitly requested and that the notice itself does not signify approval of the Program. The notice (sections 6-8) imposes an obligation on the GBRMPA to consider all public comments received by the specified deadline before making any decision regarding the Program's permit. It also highlights the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries' commitment to ensuring the safety of beachgoers by continuing the Program, which has successfully prevented any fatalities from shark attacks on protected beaches since its inception. There are no specific offences, penalties, or consequences mentioned in the notice for breaching the terms of the Program or the application process. However, any decision made by GBRMPA regarding the permit application will be based on the information provided by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries and the feedback received from the public consultation. The notice underscores the importance of public participation in the decision-making process and ensures that all views are given due consideration.