Tell Queensland To Stop Letting Shark Nets Are Kill Whales

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Sponsor: Free The Ocean

Whale mothers and calves are being trapped and tortured by shark nets that fail to protect swimmers—Queensland’s leaders must end this cruel practice now before more lives are destroyed.

Tell Queensland To Stop Letting Shark Nets Are Kill Whales

Queensland’s coastline should be a sanctuary for migrating humpback whales. Instead, it has become a gauntlet of shark nets that entangle mothers and calves, forcing them to drag heavy gear for kilometers or risk drowning. Multiple whale families have been trapped in nets, their struggles broadcast across the nation1. These are not isolated incidents—they are part of an escalating pattern of suffering caused by outdated and ineffective policy.

Shark Nets Do Not Protect Swimmers

Despite their name, shark nets are not barriers. They are short sections of mesh set offshore, designed to ensnare marine life rather than keep predators out. Sharks can swim around, under, or even through them. Data shows many sharks caught were found on the beach side of the nets, proving they had already passed into swimming areas2. The false sense of safety these nets create comes at a devastating cost to whales, dolphins, turtles, and rays.

The Toll on Marine Life

The numbers are staggering. In Queensland during 2024, 1,641 animals were caught in shark nets and lethal drumlines. More than half were not sharks. Victims included 26 whales and dolphins, 50 turtles, and 102 rays, with over 1,100 animals killed outright3. Entanglement does not end with release; it inflicts stress and burns energy reserves vital for long migrations1. Mothers trying to protect their calves are especially vulnerable, often becoming trapped themselves when attempting to help their young4.

Safer Alternatives Exist

Experts agree that the only certain way to prevent entanglement is to remove shark nets2. Non-lethal alternatives already exist, including eco-friendly barriers, enclosures, drone surveillance, acoustic monitoring, and education programs. These options protect swimmers without sacrificing the lives of whales and other marine species. Other regions have already proven such approaches work, demonstrating that human safety does not have to come at the expense of wildlife.

Queensland Must Act Now

Keeping shark nets in the water is a choice—and it is one that puts whales in jeopardy year after year. Queensland has the opportunity to modernize its shark control measures and lead the world in marine protection. Every day of delay risks more entanglements, more needless suffering, and more damage to the fragile balance of our coastal ecosystems. It is time for Queensland’s leaders to end this destructive practice and adopt humane, effective solutions.

Join us in calling for an immediate ban on shark nets in Queensland. Sign the petition today and help protect whales, marine life, and the future of our oceans.

More on this issue:

  1. Nick Visser, The Guardian (27 Sep 2025), "Mother and baby whale trapped in shark net off Queensland’s Rainbow Beach."
  2. Petra Stock, The Guardian (29 Sep 2025), "Twelve whales have been tangled in shark nets off Queensland’s coast so far this year. Here’s why."
  3. Kitty Block, Humane World (25 Sep 2025), "Five entangled whales off Australia’s coast expose the cruelty of shark nets."
  4. Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald (18 Sep 2025), "Shark nets catch something else entirely — prompting rescue mission off Australia."
  5. Humane World for Animals Australia, Medianet (17 Sep 2025), "Humane World for Animals Australia responds to report of Humpback Whale caught in shark nets at Hervey Bay, Queensland."

The Petition

To the Premier of Queensland, The Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries, The Minister for the Environment and the Great Barrier Reef, and Members of the Environment and Resources Committee:

We, the undersigned, call for the immediate removal and permanent ban of shark nets off Queensland’s coast.

Shark nets were introduced decades ago with the intent of protecting swimmers. Yet they are neither barriers nor true safety measures. They are short fishing meshes, set offshore, that do not prevent sharks from reaching beaches. Instead, they indiscriminately entangle marine life—including whales, dolphins, turtles, rays, and endangered species.

The danger to humpback whales is especially severe. Each year during migration, mothers and calves moving close to shore are caught in these nets. Some whales drag heavy gear for kilometers, expending vital energy and risking drowning. Even when freed, the trauma and exhaustion compromise their survival and ability to complete the long journey back to Antarctic feeding grounds. These tragedies unfold repeatedly, despite overwhelming scientific evidence that nets are ineffective at reducing shark bite risk.

In fact, studies have shown sharks often swim around or over the nets. Many are even caught on the beach side, proving that nets do not stop their movement. Worse, the presence of dead or dying animals in the nets may attract larger sharks closer to swimmers, undermining the very purpose these devices claim to serve.

Queensland has alternatives that are humane, effective, and forward-looking. These include shark barriers and enclosures that protect designated swimming areas without harming wildlife, real-time drone and acoustic monitoring, smart drumlines designed to avoid entanglement, and expanded public education on marine safety. Several of these tools are already in use internationally with proven success.

Continuing to deploy lethal nets while whales and other marine life suffer is no longer acceptable. Queensland has the opportunity to lead Australia, and the world, by ending a practice that is outdated, cruel, and counterproductive.

By removing shark nets and investing in modern, non-lethal solutions, we can safeguard human swimmers while protecting the whales and marine ecosystems that are vital to Queensland’s environment and identity. These actions will ensure safer seas, healthier wildlife, and a better future for all.

Sincerely,

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