Public notice pursuant to Reg 75 of Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Regulations 1983 (amendment 2008)

Public notice pursuant to S15 of Marine Park Regulations 2006 (QLD)

Application to continue the Queensland shark control program (the Program) permit to operate in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park

Notice is hereby given that the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) has applied to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) and the Department of National Parks, Sport and Recreation for permission to continue deploying shark control apparatus at popular beaches at Cairns, Townsville, MacKay, Capricorn Coast and Tannum Sands areas in the Cairns/Cooktown, Townsville/Whitsunday, Mackay/Capricorn Management Areas of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Parks.

The Program has deployed shark control apparatus at popular beaches along Queensland’s east coast since 1962 in an attempt to reduce the risk of shark attack. Its success is represented by Queensland having no fatalities resulting from a shark attack on a protected beach inside the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park since the Program commenced.

The Program operates at the following beaches:

Cairns: Ellis, Buchans, Clifton, Trinity Beaches and Palm Cove

Townsville and Magnetic Island: Pallarenda Beach and Picnic, Nelly, Alma, Florence, Radical and Horseshoe Bays Magnetic Island

Mackay: Bucasia, Eimeo and Blacks Beaches

Capricorn Coast: Farnborough, Yeppoon, Lammermoor, Kemp, Mullambin, Fisherman’s Beaches, Emu Park, Tanby Point and Cooee Bay

Gladstone: Tannum Sands

An information package, including further details of the Program, is available from the GBRMPA website at www.gbrmpa.gov.au/about-us/consultation or from the applicant:

Department of Agriculture and Fisheries

PO Box 327, Cleveland. QLD 4163

www.daf.qld.gov.au

callweb@daf.qld.gov.au

Interested persons, especially those who believe the Program will restrict their reasonable use of this part of the Marine Park, are invited to lodge written comments on the Program with GBRMPA by 30 November 2015.

Comments should be forwarded to:

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority

Environmental Assessment and Protection Unit

PO Box 1379

Townsville QLD 4810

Or email: QSCP@gbrmpa.gov.au

Comments will not be regarded as confidential unless confidentiality is specifically requested. This notice does not imply approval for the project. Due consideration will be given to public comments before GBRMPA makes any decisions in relation to this application