Public Urged To Comment On Grey Nurse Shark Proposals
28 October 2003

The Department of Primary Industries is urging the Queensland community to have their say about a range of measures to protect Australia’s vulnerable grey nurse shark population.

The Queensland Fisheries Service (QFS) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have released a Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS) that proposes restricting fishing and diving in the six key grey nurse aggregation sites in south-east Queensland.

The six sites are Wolf Rock (off Double Island Point); and five sites in the Moreton Bay Marine Park including Gotham City, Flat Rock, Cherub’s Cave, Henderson Rock and China Wall.

QFS fisheries resource manager Mark Doohan encouraged all members of the public to respond in writing to the proposals aimed at protecting the estimated 300-500 grey nurse sharks that remained on Australia’s east coast.

“Fisheries resources are a public resource. They belong to the Queensland community and that’s why we want to hear from everyone,” he said.

“Grey nurse sharks are listed as critically endangered under Commonwealth legislation and are one of the country’s most endangered marine animals so it is vital we move to protect the remaining population.”

However, Mr Doohan said it was important to remember that the RIS contained only recommendations.

“These measures are only proposals and we do rely on public feedback to help assess them and determine whether they become legislation or not,” he said.

“So now is the time to have your say and make sure that your views are heard.”

Mr Doohan said the proposed fishing restrictions were aimed at protecting the sharks from fishing hooks and other fishing activities that negatively impacted on them.

“Hooks are a serious problem and can become embedded in the shark and cause serious infection as well as disrupt their feeding and digestion, causing them to starve,” he said.

Mr Doohan said it was also believed that diving too close to sharks or in large groups could affect their feeding and breeding behaviour and the proposals contained in the RIS aimed to address these impacts.

He said because of their fierce appearance, grey nurse sharks had been hunted almost to extinction. These sharks are not known to be dangerous to humans.

The public has until November 17 to comment in writing on the recommendations outlined in the RIS.

Copies and more information can be found on the Fishweb site at www.dpi.qld.gov.au/fishweb or through the DPI Call Centre on 13 25 23.

Department of Primary Industries Media Unit
GPO Box 46 Brisbane Qld 4001 Ph 07 3239 6380
DPI Call Centre 13 25 23 (weekdays 8 am to 6 pm)

Further information: Mark Doohan (07) 3225 1888
Communications Officer: Liz Smith (07) 3224 7757

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