Anglers petition Qld government to relax bull shark fishing rules as numbers rise

The Queensland government is being petitioned to relax fishing limits for bull sharks and consider culls. Experts warn large sharks are not recommended to eat, and that there's not enough evidence to support expanding lethal population control measures. The state government says it is working on more accurate population assessments of bull sharks. Link copiedShareShare articleA male voice off-screen can be heard saying "2.9" as a pair of mates shake hands. Sharks like this one live in Queensland waters. (Supplied: Mad Mullet Productions) The amateur fishermen have just caught and released a large bull shark. "Your shark. You release her ... push her out." They have returned the shark to the river because they are abiding by Queensland law that dictates the shark is too big to be captured. Some fishers, along with recreational users of the state's waterways, want those laws relaxed so they can catch more, and larger, sharks. On the banks of the Brisbane River, Richard Smith sets up for an afternoon of fishing. It is something he has done for decades. Richard Smith has been fishing the Brisbane River for decades. (ABC News: Lottie Twyford) One of the many species he is often on the hunt for are bull sharks. After all, there are plenty of them in the river. "They're fast and powerful fish. They move very quickly through the water so they're a great fight," he explained. Many amateur fishers target bull sharks. (Supplied: Mad Mullet Productions) Over the years, Mr Smith has had close encounters with bull sharks from his kayak. He estimates the largest one he has ever seen was about three metres in length. On one occasion he battled a two-metre shark near Fig Tree Pocket on the Brisbane River, before finally setting it free. He has also seen a shark snap up a fish he had just thrown back in the water, and has seen issues with depredation – when sharks eat hooked fish before they can be pulled in. David Frisina rides his jet ski around coastal waters near Brisbane. (ABC News: Nickoles Coleman) Angler and avid jet ski rider David Frisina has growing increasingly concerned about their numbers. Once upon a time (in the late 1970s and early 1980s), Mr Frisina would water ski on the Brisbane River around the Long Pocket area. "I wouldn't do that anymore," he laughs. "And I'd tell my kids and grandkids not to do it." These days, Mr Frisina – now in his 60s – rides his jet ski in coastal waters, often departing Cleveland, south of Brisbane, towards the Bay Island, or in the Gold Coast's creeks and rivers. Over time, Mr Frisina has become increasingly aware of the numbers of bull sharks in inland waterways. Mr Frisina's concerned increasing numbers of bull sharks will make the waterways he loves increasingly unsafe. (ABC News: Nickoles Coleman) Like many recreational fishers, he believes believe bull sharks are growing in both number and size. The Brisbane River is a home for many creatures great and small, and during the warmer months rumours of fishermen catching bull sharks swirl around the city. He is so concerned that he's lodged a petition with the Queensland government, urging it to review and relax existing fishing restrictions and population control measures – like culls. Mr Frisina said he was coming from the point of view of someone who hopes his grandchildren will be able to grow up in and alongside the state's waterways. He is worried that without intervention, bull shark numbers will continue to grow, and potentially make creeks and rivers entirely unswimmable. Anecdotal claims about increasing bull shark numbers can be difficult to stack up. Dr Daryl McPhee from Bond University said they were a difficult species to count accurately, and social media was also making it easier for people to re-share videos. "The anecdotal information is that the population of bull sharks is increasing" he agreed. "In terms of getting scientific information, they're large animals, they're mobile animals, they're animals that can roam around a large area and that makes it very difficult to get a population assessment." That is something the state government says it is working on. Current guidelines for fishing bull sharks in Queensland. (Supplied: Queensland government) Currently, Queensland anglers are limited to catching one bull shark per day and the fish must be smaller than 1.5 metres in size. As a comparison, New South Wales fishers can catch up to five sharks a day, and there are no legislated size limits. Experts warn there's a reason the 1.5-metre limit is in place for recreational fishing. Daryl McPhee is an associate professor in environmental science at Bond University. (Supplied: Bond University) Dr McPhee said people are advised against consuming larger sharks because the mercury content of the fish increases to potentially unsafe levels. "A very large shark to eat is simply as tough as an old boot," he said. Bull sharks – a species which spends a lot of time in pollute

Anglers petition Qld government to relax bull shark fishing rules as numbers rise

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