Shark Depredation
AFTA is working on a policy discussion paper on “The Economic, Social, and Environmental Effects of Shark Interactions on Recreational Fishing in Australia and the need for Government Action” to respond to the concerns of our members and present it to all governments.
Recreational fishing is a valuable activity in Australia, with evident economic, social, and environmental benefits. However, shark interaction challenges both the recreational and commercial industries. AFTA will produce a policy paper to analyse the economic, social, and environmental effects of shark interactions on recreational fishing and suggest actions the Government can take to reduce these effects.
The FRDC/Qld Government jointly prepared a Discussion paper for the Fisheries Research & Development Corporation National Workshop on Shark Interactions in Australian Fisheries, March 2022 by Dr Jonathan D. Mitchell, Queensland Government, Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Animal Science.
In that report, Dr Mitchell states at 2.4. Shark behaviour and movement patterns that studies in 2020 revealed the following:
… “that sharks can quickly adapt to the repeated presence of a vessel and the availability of food in a fished area, with their arrival times decreasing significantly in just 6 days.
On the other hand, when the same provision of food was done in a no-take zone, sharks took much longer to arrive and did not feed, possibly because they had not learned to link the presence of vessels with food in this area (Mitchell et al., 2020).
This finding is supported by Heinrich et al. (2021), who showed that lemon sharks in The Bahamas learned to expect the provision of food in just 11 days, and this behaviour can be maintained for over 3 months.
These two studies therefore provide scientific evidence supporting the many anecdotal reports of sharks learning to follow fishing vessels and associate them with food.”
However, disappointingly, the report did not contain any recommendations for reducing interactions with fishers’ line catch.
AFTA is considering a proposal to relax government restrictions on the recreational take of sharks, not including protected species, and reviewing size & bag limits. It is possible that through the learned behaviour to stay away from boats; it may reduce the impact on line caught fish.
THE TRIPLE BOTTOM LINE:
ECONOMIC EFFECT
Shark interactions affect the economic viability of recreational fishing across the country. Sharks taking fish off fishers’ lines has increased the concerns about more interactions between sharks and fishers and the possible effect on wild fish stocks. This interaction decreases the number of fish available for recreational fishing, affecting the income generated from this activity.
SOCIAL EFFECT
The social aspect of recreational fishing is also affected by shark interactions. The fear and risk associated with shark interactions can deter individuals from participating in recreational fishing activities. This will lead to a decline in community participation and social bonding, which are often created through such collective activities.
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECT
From an environmental perspective, shark interactions play a crucial role in maintaining the balance of marine ecosystems. However, the interaction between sharks and recreational fishing activities can have negative effects.
CONCLUSION
Shark interactions have significant economic, social, and environmental impacts on recreational fishing across Australia. While it presents challenges, it also highlights the complex balance of marine ecosystems. Government intervention through regulation, education, and research can help reduce these impacts, ensuring the sustainability of recreational fishing while preserving marine biodiversity.
AFTA will initiate discussions with the commonwealth, states, and territory governments to find common ground and potential solutions to reduce interactions.
Your experiences and photos would be helpful in preparing and developing this policy paper. AFTA would appreciate members’ direct input in developing a strategy policy sent to bobbaldwin@afta.net.au.