Adding up the numbers: New Queensland catch figures must equal the end to shark culling program

SYDNEY 23 MAY 2025: Updated figures available from the Queensland Department of Primary Industries, again show the devastation of Queensland’s Shark Control Program with 1692 animals caught in the seven months since Premier Crisafulli took office—1112 of those animals were killed. 

Included in the catch were: 40 rays (14 killed), 28 turtles (5 killed), and four whales or dolphins (four killed). 

A staggering 1587 sharks were caught with 1067 of them killed. Only one-third (563) were target sharks. The rest posed very little threat to human safety. 

Eighty sharks were threatened species. Sixty-two of them were killed. 

Lawrence Chlebeck, a marine biologist with Humane World for Animals, said, ‘Each month we see this horrendous and growing number of marine animal fatalities. To see that many animals, whether they’re sharks, dolphins, turtles or rays, taken out of the ocean in just seven months, and so many being threatened species, is sickening.  

‘There is no doubt that this program is simply a placebo to make people feel safe, but people—voters—are becoming tired of seeing the wanton killing of marine life, especially when they are becoming increasingly aware that it doesn’t impact their safety. 

‘It’s certainly time Queensland did away with its current program and wholly adopted modern technologies like drones and shark listening stations (that detect tagged sharks)—technologies that are scientifically proven to work much more effectively than shark nets and lethal drumlines at actually keeping people safe,’ he said. 

‘We are aware that the Government has been rethinking the program.’ 

Ahead of the election the Liberal National Party indicated that they were receptive to using non-lethal modern technology for shark management, stating in a scorecard on the different parties’ animal welfare policies:

‘Regarding your concerns about shark safety, while the LNP believes human safety must come first when it comes to shark control, we are not opposed to using new methods to fulfil the primary objective of protecting community safety. The Liberal National Party is receptive to considering non-lethal alternatives to existing shark control methods provided they can be proven to work effectively.’ 

‘We hope that Premier Crisafulli and the Minister for Primary Industries, Tony Perrett, take a good look at these numbers and do the right thing by Queensland as they’ve indicated they would,’ concluded Chlebeck. 

In brief 

November 2024 – May 2025 (7-months post-election) 

Lawrence Chlebeck, marine biologist with Humane World for Animals, is available for interview. 

Animals caught in Queensland Shark Control Program in the seven months since the state election.

November 2024 – May 2025 (7-months post-election)