General News
17 April, 2026
Beating sharks at their game
BEING smart around sharks is one of the keys to sustainable fishing on the Great Barrier Reef with new research revealing the hidden financial cost of the predators of the deep snagging a fisho’s catch.
Shark depredation is when sharks take hooked fish before they can be safely retrieved, driven by their natural instincts.
But new research from the Queensland Department of Primary Industries shows that simple changes in fishing practices can significantly reduce interactions and help fishers keep more of their catch.
Senior DPI fisheries biologist Dr Jonathan Mitchell led the research and said the findings show the growing scale of the problem with an estimated 37% of Spanish mackerel catch lost to sharks.
“We know now that depredation is translating directly into higher costs for fishers, from lost gear to increased fuel use,” he said.
“Moreover, depredation can also result in higher fish mortality and injuries to sharks, which at scale can have impacts on maintaining sustainable fish stocks across the Reef.
“Through our findings we know that there are steps that fishers can take to help mitigate the problem, and that is an area where we will continue to focus our research efforts.”
These include:
Turn your engine and echosounder off when you arrive at your fishing spot – this reduces noise and the chance of attracting sharks
Fish in shallower depths
Avoid cleaning your fish and dumping the waste where you are fishing
Use handlines and/or electric reels – this may help you get your fish in the boat faster
Consider using a shark deterrent device.
Reef authority field management operations director Chris Cochrane said the findings reinforced the importance of the authority’s new ‘Fish for the Future’ campaign.
“The Reef is home to around 135 species of shark,” he said.
“When you’re fishing on the Reef, you’re in the shark’s backyard, so it makes sense to adjust what we’re doing to minimise any unwanted interactions.
“There’s no simple fix, but a few simple, shark-smart habits and adapting how we fish, can go a long way in helping fishers avoid sharks and hold on to their catch.
“We want everyone to enjoy their time on the water and play their part to protect the Reef.”
Make sure you:
Know where you can and can’t fish
Anchor in sand to avoid damaging coral
Take only what you need for a feed, not to fill the esky.
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