A tiger shark stuck, tagged and released yesterday morning on Sydney’s Tamarama Beach has rekindled the debate over SMART drum lines.
Devices are advertised as a non-lethal shark control method because a GPS communications unit sends an alert once an animal has been caught.
From here the boats leave and the animal is tagged and released.
A large tiger shark, more than two meters long, was caught yesterday morning in Tamarama and Bronte Beach. (Shark / Jason Iggleden Drone Application)
Drone Shark founder Jason Iggleden captured yesterday’s capture from the air and questioned how this unfolds in practice.
A tiger shark is seen tied to the back of a boat for “at least 45 minutes” after being thrown to the surface.
Iggleden said it looked “pretty still” when it finally premiered.
The great tiger shark is tied to the back of the boat in front of Tamarama and Bronte in the eastern suburbs of Sydney. (Shark / Jason Iggleden Drone Application)
“I saw my first tiger shark here in Sydney, but that’s not how I wanted to see it,” Iggleden said, adding that after tagging the shark was not released for 20 minutes.
“To be honest, I’m not sure if the shark was still alive once it was released, as it remained quite motionless when it sank beneath the surface.”
SMART drum lines consist of an anchor, two buoys, and a satellite-connected GPS communications unit connected to a bait hook. (Supplied by NSW Department of Primary Industries)
The NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) confirmed that a 2.45-meter shark was caught yesterday at the popular swimming site and was released alive.
“The SMART drum line was activated at 10:24 a.m. and the contractors’ ship arrived at 10:45 a.m.,” a spokesman said.
“The shark was tagged and released in good health at 11:23 p.m.”
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When asked if it is common practice to leave a shark for 20 minutes after tagging it, DPI did not respond.
But in a statement issued online, the NSW Shark Smart program said that “the contractor operated in accordance with all DPI protocols and the contractual requirement to respond to alerts within 30 minutes.”
Flinders University marine ecologist Charlie Huveneers told 9news.com.au that he has captured and released sharks under similar conditions.
“Depending on the conditions, taking accurate measurements, sampling and labeling can take between 15 and 20 minutes,” he said.
“Tiger sharks are also quite robust with high survival after release and do not need to swim energetically after release so that they are still alive.
“We have successfully captured, sampled and tagged more than 80 tiger sharks using NSW DPI-like protocols and have not had any mortality.”
DPI claims that tiger sharks, along with great white and bull sharks, are “target sharks.” These three species are most commonly involved in severe shark bites in NSW. (Archive image) (Ocearch)
The debate over SMART battery lines is raging online
While the shark was alive when it was released, some of Iggleden’s fans expressed their shock at the footage, writing, “40 minutes? It seems like a long time to put a tag … what were they doing all the time?” “
Another said, “Sad. The drum lines have to go.”
Others questioned what the alternative measures might look like.
“I could have survived if the ship was moving while tied up like that,” one wrote.
Another added, “It’s a tiger shark for God’s sake and it was tagged and released and you’re still complaining?”
The tiger shark is not a protected species in NSW, but is listed as “near threatened”. (Getty Images / iStockphoto)
Tiger sharks are one of three species of “target” sharks listed by the IPR.
The other two species include great white sharks and bull sharks.
DPI said 15 SMART drum lines “are installed daily between Bondi and Little Bay” in Sydney.
This adds up to 15 SMART drum lines between Greenhills and Oak Park on Sutherland LGA, and 30 on North Beaches, which cover Manly in Palm Beach.
Simon Nellist was killed in a shark attack in the far north of Little Bay Beach, east of Sydney. (Supplied)
The attack of a large target at least three meters long was the first shark death in Sydney in almost 60 years.