Sharks can no longer be culled on the Great Barrier Reef after a landmark court ruling overturned an Australian government culling scheme.
Campaigners had fought to end the practice of killing sharks, which is meant to reduce the risk of attacks in the region.
Nearly 200 defensive fishing lines are used in Queensland to kill them, and while many sharks drown after being caught on these lines, others are found alive and shot.
However, the tribunal found “overwhelming” evidence that killing the predatory fish does not reduce the risk of unprovoked shark interactions.
Its judgement stated: “It is plain from the evidence given in these proceedings that Queensland’s lethal shark control programme is out of step with national and international developments.”
Lawrence Chlebeck, marine campaigner at Humane Society International, said: “Since the 1960s, sharks have been shot dead in the Great Barrier Reef. Today this has ended. This is a massive victory for sharks and marine wildlife.”
The ruling concluded that sharks can no longer be killed by gunshot except on “welfare grounds”.
It also stated that hooks must be checked more frequently, and any tiger, bull or great white shark found on them must be tagged before being released alive offshore.
Finally, the tribunal ordered the rollout of non-lethal fishing lines and other methods that will allow the fish to be removed without harming them.
“The judgement makes it crystal clear that non-lethal technology is the way forward for shark control in the Great Barrier Reef,” said Mr Chlebeck.
“As a result of this judgement, finding that killing sharks has no impact on bather safety, HSI calls on the Queensland government to update its shark management program along the whole Queensland coast.”
Since 2016, more than 500 sharks have died as a result of prevention measures in the region. The court found tiger sharks had undergone a serious decline.
Authorities told local news sources they were reviewing the decision made by the court.
