General News
17 June, 2026
Sharks ‘out of control’
HILL MP Shane Knuth has called for stronger shark control measures in the wake of the fatal shark attack of former Tully man Michael Jensz off Hull Heads last month.
“Following the recent fatal shark attack and growing concerns from fishers about the explosion in shark numbers resulting in lost catches and increased safety risks, will the government introduce stronger shark control measures to protect Queenslanders who work, fish and enjoy recreational activities in our coastal waters?,” Mr Knuth asked in state parliament.
In reply, Primary Industries Minister Tony Perrett said the tragic death of Mr Jensz had “certainly sent shivers across that part of Queensland, particularly the spear fishermen and women in that area”.
He said the government included in last year’s budget an increased commitment of $88 million to the shark control program in Queensland.
“We did that very deliberately because we put the lives of humans before anything else and that is the main purpose of the shark control program,” Mr Perrett said.
“There are ongoing challenges across the state with respect to shark management. I hear about shark numbers from recreational fishermen and commercial fishermen.”
Mr Perrett said a study into shark numbers across the state was underway.
“That work continues and is nearing completion ... some advice will come to me shortly about what we need to do to manage shark populations in this state,” he said.
“There are waters where we manage them directly, and there are also waters, particularly in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, where the federal government sets certain provisions on how we manage those sharks.
“We will continue to do what we can in that space. We will continue to make representations to the federal government around some of those challenges and their success or otherwise.”
Federal Member for Kennedy Bob Katter has called for a shark cull.
He said governments had arguably become more concerned about protecting sharks than protecting human life and that he was going to use the next parliamentary sitting period to make sure shark culling was brought back onto the national stage.
“We understand there might be more clarity over the coming days about what eventuated, but locals have been raising concerns about the exploding shark populations, particularly bull sharks, which are completely out of control, for years.
“Gererd Pike, a local charter boat operator, was out there on a fishing charter (recently) and told me that as they were reeling in a Spanish mackerel, he had six bull sharks fighting over it. So much for them being a so-called endangered species.”
Mr Katter warned that North Queenslanders were being ignored by bureaucrats in Brisbane and Canberra while local families and industries were powerless and exposed to onslaught of these apex predators.
Mr Jensz’s funeral is being held at Gordonvale on Monday 22 June at 10am.
Read More: Far North