Shark Control

Amelia Lorentson12:54

Okay, Council request this Chief Executive Officer to prepare a report for the upcoming Council meeting addressing the following issues. One, clear policy decision. The report should clearly outline council's policy position on the use of shark drumlines including any ongoing and future trials. Two, advocacy to state. Advocacy and support to the State. Council recognises the importance of advocating for and supporting matters that are significant to our community. The CEO is requested to and identify and articulate these matters in the report. This may include, but it is not limited to the following. Continued advances in reporting. In its role as an advocate, Council supports the importance of transparent reporting from the State government regarding the effect effectiveness of shark nets and drumlines, noting that the annual catch data is provided on the State government website. It urges the consideration of further improvements to data reporting, including which side of the nets marine species are caught on to evaluate shark control programs efficiency and therefore minimising impacts on non-target species, and GIS mapping with interactive maps to improve clarity and provide a more comprehensive understanding of the data. 2. Investigation of temporary net relocation during specific periods. Council requests that the State government to provide advice and explore the feasibility of temporarily relocating shark nets at Laguna Bay to a location that mitigates of bycatch and/or whale issues during the upcoming whale migration period. It's noted that DAF's marine animal release teams had just completed their annual training and whale alarms will be going on the nets during the next changeover. Three continuous evaluation. And technological advancements. Council advocates or the State government should continually evaluate the latest technological advancements in shark protection devices. The report should outline other possible recommendations on new technologies for. By the State government such as the shark state barriers. Safe barriers model of electronic current deterrence developed in south africa in terms of cost effectiveness and success rate. Noosa Council also extends. An invitation to DAF to present their findings on the Shark Control Program. The presentation could be a valuable addition to the Council report. Providing comprehensive insights into the effectiveness and impact of the program. Expertise and first-hand experience with the Shark Control Program. But also offer a unique perspective, potentially highlighting areas of success. And identifying opportunities for improvement. This collaboration could also help build stronger relationships between Noosa Council and DAF. Paving the way for future partnerships on environmental and wildlife management initiatives.

Amelia Lorentson16:29

If she's moving something, she can move something. No, I'll stick to what's on the screen. The DAF's expertise and first-hand experience with the Shark Control Program would offer a unique perspective, potentially highlighting areas of success and identifying opportunities for improvement for consideration by the Councillors. Can we have a seconder for that, please? Me. Seconder, Councillor Jess Phillips. Councillor Lorentson. Noosa Council is not responsible for managing shark nets and drumlines as it's a state government's responsibility. In September 2019, the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries published the Queensland Shark Control Program, review of alternative approaches which provides extensive data on current shark protection devices, their bycatch and potential future approaches. The Queensland Shark Control Program aims to reduce the risk of shark bites by using nets and drumlines across Queensland beaches. The program also conducts trials of new technology, records all the animals captured, and supports and conducts research to understand shark behaviour. Noosa Council has no policy regarding shark nets, drumlines and trials and no previous report on this matter has ever been presented to the Council. It's essential that we establish a clear policy position on the issue as opinion varies regarding the use of shark nets and drumlines. Some people prioritise human safety while others advocate for marine conservation. A clear policy can help balance these perspectives and manage community expectations. Noosa Council can play a significant role in advocating and supporting the Queensland Shark Control Program by establishing a policy position. This way Council can raise awareness about the importance of the program. Noosa Council can advocate for its clear objectives to the State and actively engage in state-led trials and initiatives to drive the assessment and adoption of evidence-based predatory species mitigation controls and more importantly advocate to ensure that the program meets the needs and expectations of our community. Also the State Shark Control Program is expected to bring forward recommendations in June or July this year. These recommendations may include replacing the drumlines, lethal drumlines with smart drumlines and facing out shark mitigation programs. Having a policy position would allow Noosa Council to respond effectively to these recommendations. Previous responses from the State government have indicated that support of key stakeholders such as Noosa Council is vital in determining where the trials and transitions can occur. Given these factors, it would be beneficial for Noosa Council to have a clear policy position on shark nets and drumlines and this would allow them to effectively engage community, respond to state recommendations and contribute to the ongoing discussion about Shark Control measures. It's important to note that any policy should be based on scientific evidence, community input and a commitment to both public safety and environment. Sustainability. In my motion, and I won't read it out, but I also reference how the motions aligned with our Environment Strategy and good work of the Noosa Biosphere Reserve Foundation in implementing several of these positive shark control measures and I also summarise the shark control programs and they're great work in this space so the program's been began in 2020 and is just anticipated a to be concluded in 2025 with a review coming up in June and that the recommendations will inform future shark management decisions from Queensland including a new plan that's proposed for 2025 and 2026 so I'll leave that reading to you there's some great graphs maps and references but I will add that in preparing this report I've consulted with a lot of community groups ocean users and non-ocean users environmentalists to business groups and I think when we work together we come out we end up with really great outcomes and the feedback that I've got from the shark the Oceans For All group surfrider, Noosa surfing community alliance, Noosa Heads Surf Lifesaving Club, Noosa Biosphere Reserve, the Noosa World Surfing Reserve, Noosa Boardriders club, the Noosa Malibu Club, Hastings Street Association, Tourism Noosa, beach permit holders and surf schools that everyone is in agreeance that we need to have a clear policy position and also understand the roles and responsibilities of state and the where we can drive assessment and that is in actively looking for alternative mitigation measures. SHARPNET's six decades surely there's got to be something better and more effective for protection of beachgoers and also to minimise harm for marine species. Thank you Council note.

Frank Wilkie22:28

I'd like to move an amendment under item 1 be amended to read the role and policy position of the report should clearly outline the council's role and recommend the policy position on the State government's Shark Control Program. Of shark nets and drumlines, including any ongoing future trials. And in the last paragraph, it will it would be agreed that advocacy to the State on any aspect of the Shark Control Program or resolution on a Council position on SHARPNET's not occur until Noosa Councillors have had a presentation from the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries on the shark program. A seconder for that please? I have a seconder for that thank you. Look, I've run this by Councillor Lorentson and I understand she's quite comfortable with that. I'm saying. It represents the intent of what the notified motion intends to do. With staff our staff may recommend a policy position, it's up to Councillors to adopt the policy position and we may have some, I believe, room for some debate around that. And at the end, I think it was the intent, it just articulates and makes it plain. We won't be prescribing any position or undertaking any advocacy to the State until all new and returned Councillors have had a presentation from DAF on the latest technologies. Which I think was entirely consistent with what Councillor Lorentson intended with this motion and I commend her on the notified motion. Any other Councillors wish to speak to the proposed amendments? I'll put it to the vote. Those in favour? That's unanimous. We can now go back to the original motion which has been slightly amended. Councillor Lorentson has spoken. Councillor any other Councillors wish to speak to the motion?

Amelia Lorentson29:19

I think that question is probably left for department of fisheries agriculture and fisheries so the Shark Control program five-year program that looked at trials across Australia and it actually looked at eco barriers to drone surveillance to electronic barriers to shark lines and drumlines so part of the presentations with Department of Agriculture and Fisheries will be a summation of what has been trialled, what is effective and what's not effective. Thank you.

Amelia Lorentson34:37

I'll close and I'll address a couple of things that Councillor Wegener said. Firstly, I have had quite a few conversations with board members from the Noosa Biosphere Reserve who've actually commended me on bringing this report to Council. Sandy Bolton, our member of parliament for nearly two years, has been pressing Council for a clear policy position on this. Her efforts in advocacy are ineffective unless she understands where this community sits on this issue. So for those reasons, and also I've been sitting in this space for two years, I was part of the Shark symposium program. Reference to workload, the environment staff have already started preparing a briefing note and in my report I actually referenced the Noosa Environment Strategy. We have an in-principle policy position already in play. Environment Strategy, there's nothing controversial about that. What we need is to be clear. We've been ducking the issue for two years since I've been asking for it. Two years, my gosh, it's a state issue, too controversial, let's just stay away from this. We need to lead the narrative. We need to be bold and courageous and we need to drive state. We need to drive them and push them in finding better solutions. You know, our beach goer population, I at Noosa Main Beach. Goer population has grown exponentially. So whether you care about marine life or not, safety of beach goers, if there is something than a net that doesn't reach the bottom of the ocean, that doesn't run across the entire beach, if there's something better there that's going to protect a swimmer or a mum or a dad or our kids or surfers, then I for one would love to put our hand up for a trial. So in conclusion I'll keep this brief. The use of shark nets and drumlines is a topic that divides our community. Some people believe that can protect us from shark attacks and others argue that there are better alternatives. Research suggests nets may be effective and some scientists believe that relying solely on them is a misguided approach. Therefore, it's crucial that we or state, explore other options that are based on current and most recent technology and data. Clear policy position will allow Council to work with and drive the State government towards implementing innovative solutions that balance public safety with the protection of marine ecosystems. Furthermore, it will enable Council to respond effectively to the recommendations of the Shark Control Program that are expected to come to which account, which are expected to be published in a. Few months. Thank you. Councillor Wilson. We'll put it to the vote. Those in favour?