In a startling revelation, the Queensland Department of Primary Industries has announced that the largest great white shark ever caught in the state’s shark control program was pregnant with four pups when it was found dead on a drumline near Gladstone in August 2024. The female shark measured an astonishing 5.62 meters long, approximately the size of a 20-foot shipping container and a sixth larger than the average female great white.
A Rare Occurrence in Queensland Waters
According to Associate Professor Daryl McPhee from Bond University, it is unusual to find a large white shark this far north in Queensland during the summer months. “The usual range is from about Harvey Bay, Bundaberg, southern Queensland through New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania [and] New Zealand,” he explained. While an estimated 750 adult white sharks inhabit Australia’s eastern shoreline, they are seldom caught on the drumlines used in the state’s shark control program.
Rising Shark Catches in 2024
Queensland has witnessed a significant increase in the number of sharks caught in 2024, with 1,206 reported so far, surpassing the 958 recorded in 2023. The previous two decades saw fewer than 800 sharks caught annually. The Department of Primary Industries attributes this rise to changing environmental conditions and new equipment employed by the program, particularly around Gladstone and the Capricorn Coast.
Controversy Surrounding the Shark Control Program
Queensland’s shark control program, which aims to reduce the risk of shark bites in coastal waters, has been in operation since 1962. However, the program’s policy of euthanizing targeted shark species, including bull sharks, white sharks, and tiger sharks, after they are caught on drumlines has drawn criticism from animal welfare campaigners.
“This magnificent female that was nearly six metres long, she only had to be a couple of hundred kilometres further south, and even if she was alive she would have been shot dead,” lamented Leonardo Guida, a shark scientist from the Australian Marine Conservation Society.
Within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, where the pregnant shark was found, caught sharks are tagged and released rather than killed. However, sharks can still die if left on a drumline hook for an extended period. In August alone, 17 sharks died after being caught on drumlines within the marine park.
Calls for Non-Lethal Shark Mitigation Strategies
Guida argues that if Queensland had transitioned to fully non-lethal shark bite mitigation strategies backed by evidence, the pregnant shark would still be alive. “You just don’t really come across them that big very often,” he noted, emphasizing the rarity and importance of such a large female great white shark.
The state is currently trialing drumlines that send digital alerts, which could potentially make a difference in ensuring that sharks are found and released in a timely manner. However, for the pregnant female and her unborn pups, it was too late.
The Impact on Shark Conservation Efforts
The death of this large, pregnant great white shark raises concerns about the impact of shark control programs on the species’ population and the efficacy of current conservation efforts. Great white sharks are listed as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), with their numbers declining due to factors such as overfishing, habitat degradation, and shark control programs.
The loss of a pregnant female, capable of giving birth to multiple pups, is a significant blow to the species’ reproductive potential and overall population growth. It underscores the need for a critical re-evaluation of shark management strategies to prioritize non-lethal approaches that balance public safety with the conservation of these apex predators.
A Call for Balanced Shark Management
As public concern for both shark conservation and beach safety grows, finding a sustainable and ethical approach to shark management becomes increasingly crucial. Experts call for increased investment in research to develop effective, non-lethal shark deterrents and detection methods, as well as public education initiatives to promote a better understanding of shark behavior and the importance of their conservation.
The tragic death of this pregnant great white shark serves as a poignant reminder of the complex challenges facing shark conservation efforts and the urgent need for a paradigm shift in how we perceive and manage these majestic creatures. By working towards a more balanced, evidence-based approach to shark management, we can strive to protect both human lives and the invaluable ecological role played by sharks in our oceans.
