Taylor Ladd Hudson - Surfrider Foundations Sunshine Coast

TAYLOR LADD HUDSON - SURFRIDER FOUNDATIONS SUNSHINE COAST Question 1. Does this next generation of Noosa residents being young people deserve new modern solutions and alternatives in the management of Shark mitigation strategies? Response provided by Director Strategy and Environment, Kim Rawlings Working closely with representatives from the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF), Noosa Council adopted a Council policy position on the Shark Control Program (SCP) in June 2024. The purpose of this strategy was to support the State transition to lower bycatch potential alternatives in waters adjacent to Noosa. Holding a policy position now also allows Council to effectively represent community views and desired outcomes of the SCP to the State. Under the Queensland Shark Management Plan, Noosa Council and SLSQ have assisted DAF to undertake a range of alternative bite mitigation trials, including the delivery of SharkSmart community awareness programs and drone detection trials. Noosa Council will continue working with the State to help transition the SCP to lower bycatch potential alternatives. Primarily, this will be through the upcoming review process of the Queensland Shark Management Plan. Question 2. In my work as a youth eco leader, I have learnt that 95% of kids aged eight to 19 years old do not want to fish sharks and want to see them thriving and healthy populations off our coastline. We are so lucky to be named as UNESCO biosphere, can we uphold our values of a biosphere and lead the way to be a trial site for innovative Shark mitigation strategies? Response provided by Director Strategy and Environment, Kim Rawlings In 2010, Queensland Primary Industries and Fisheries introduced a maximum size limit and stricter take and possession limits on non-protected sharks in Queensland waters. These changes were based on fishery stock assessments and stakeholder consultation. Noosa Council acknowledges that your community observations regarding the importance of sustainable shark fisheries are supported by a number of residents within Noosa Shire. Council views our advocacy to the State for the transition the SCP to lower bycatch potential alternatives is a key strategy in upholding our values as a Biosphere Reserve. UNESCO defines Biosphere Reserves as places that should promote the testing of interdisciplinary approaches to understanding and managing changes and interactions between social and ecological systems, including conflict prevention and management of biodiversity. It is Council’s and the community's responsibility to represent our Biosphere values to the State Government. It is understood that DAF will be incorporating past and current stakeholder consultation outcomes in the upcoming evaluation of the current Queensland Shark Management Plan. Discussions with DAF also indicate that the development of the next version of the Queensland Shark Management Plan (and associated bite mitigation strategies) will include community consultation during 2025.