- $2.4 million world-leading shark research project now underway, with world-leading scientists delivering genomic research into key shark species.
- Findings will strengthen the Shark Control Program and inform future shark management.
- The Crisafulli Government has delivered the largest investment into Queensland's Shark Control Program in the State's history.
The Crisafulli Government is prioritising the safety of Queensland beachgoers by delivering a $2.4 million research project to better understand shark population and behaviour as part of its commitment to swimmer safety and science backed decision making.
This is the first study of its kind carried out for shark management in Queensland and will be delivered in two stages, with the first stage having begun and on track to be completed by February 2027:
- Stage 1 examines key biological attributes of a range of shark species, including bull sharks and tiger sharks, to understand how east coast populations respond to pressures such as fishing, including DNA analysis of breeding populations and past impacts.
- Stage 2 is due in 2028 and will map the stock structure of bull sharks and the almost identical pigeye shark through tagging, acoustic tracking and stable isotope analysis, methods that can even link pups back to their mothers.
The research will also examine how the Shark Control Program has affected shark populations since it began in 1962.
After a decade of Labor decline, sound fisheries science and swimmer safety took a back seat to inaction.
Labor's inaction to properly fund the Shark Control Program put swimmer safety and our international tourism reputation at risk, failing Queenslanders to instead appease radical agendas.
Minister for Primary Industries Tony Perrett said the research was helping further position Queensland as a world leader in shark management.
"This is the first study of its kind for shark management in Queensland, and it will give us the most complete picture of these species we've ever had," Minister Perrett said.
"I have said time and time again, the best science must inform our actions when it comes to fisheries.
"Under the Crisafulli Government, we're backing world-leading scientists to understand how sharks behave and how our management measures are affecting them.
"Importantly, this research contributes to our government's strong view that swimmer safety must take priority over all other factors.
"It's clear this work was neglected under previous Labor governments, who failed to invest in the evidence base Queenslanders needed and needed.
"This research means we can keep protecting swimmers while making sure our shark management is based on facts, not guesswork."
Member for Caloundra Kendall Hatcher said local families and beachgoers would benefit from research based here in Queensland.
"Caloundra locals know how important our beaches are to our way of life, and it's great to see the Crisafulli Government backing the science that will help keep them safe for generations to come.
"The Sunshine Coast's reputation as a safe place to enjoy some of our world's best beaches is what underpins our communities and the many small and family business that rely on it.
"This kind of research means decisions about our beaches are based on real evidence, not guesswork, and I'm proud to see this work underway."
This research delivers on Action 10 of the Crisafulli Government's Shark Management Plan 2025 to 2029.
