Photo: @bthedrifter
Earlier this year, Queensland invested heavily in mitigating the risks of shark attacks through its Shark Control Program. The local government announced $A88 million (USD $57 million) would be spent on shark nets, drumlines, drone surveillance, and whale-deterrent programs at Queensland beaches. It’s been deployed at 86 different beaches throughout the Australian state.
New drone footage posted to Instagram this week shows the program and its modern-day resources at work, with a 13-foot tiger shark being hauled onto a boat just outside of Snapper Rocks.
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A spokesperson for the Department of Primary Industries told Australia’s 9News the shark is one of 11 sharks caught at Rainbow Bay alone this year. Tiger sharks, specifically, are one of seven species targeted for capture by the heavily funded program. Bull sharks, white sharks, Australian blacktip sharks, common blacktip sharks, dusky whaler sharks, and grey reef sharks are the other species currently being targeted.
“Tiger sharks can grow up to approximately six meters in length so while this is a very large shark, it is far from the largest for this species,” the department told local media. “The purpose of the shark control program is to reduce the risk of shark attacks along Queensland’s coastal beaches.”
Shark control in Australia has long been a contentious topic, and methods deployed through the current program are polarizing. The comments section alongside the recent footage mirrored the nuanced opinions of the Australian public.
“Sucks but also would suck more to see or hear about a grom or ya everyday surfer getting killed by one of them at Snapper,” one person wrote, seemingly acknowledging both sides of the topic.
“I’d rather that shark dead on the back deck than swimming around surfers and people swimming,” another wrote in support.
