Dragon Lady to begin testing shark deterrents

Commercial fishing grant

Mary Banfield

Journalist

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Joe, Steve, Kale on the Dragon Lady. Image: supplied

The Dragon Lady, a charter fishing boat, has been awarded a significant grant from the Department of Fisheries to trial two shark deterrents that aim to reduce unnecessary fish losses, and subsequently the environmental degradation of the reef.

Back in 2020, Captain Steve Adamson, Dragon Lady, began working with a team from the University of the Sunshine Coast (USC) to test out a magnetic and an electric shark repellent.

The two systems will be tested for a year, developed by Sharkbanz and Shark Shield. 

Jaeden Vardon, PhD Candidate USC and Avid fisher. Image: Supplied

After being awarded a grant of $9,000 two very different devices will be deployed from the Dragon Lady. If successful they could have wide applications to repel sharks from commercial fishing boats, thereby reducing the loss of fish life in our oceans.

Over the 22 years of operating a charter fishing boat from Port Douglas, Adamson was shocked that when sharks were ‘frisky and a pest’ for every 10 fish that were caught, around eight could be taken by sharks before they’d left the water.

“The problem is that sharks are smart, yet they can be lazy looking for their next meal,” said Jaeden Vardon, PhD Candidate, USC.

Shark depredation

As fish are being hauled out of the water they’ll struggle, creating vibrations that can be detected by sharks.

Quickly the apex predators can start circling the boat. “Fishers will pull up their lines and often find nothing or a severed head after sharks have taken the first bite. This is what we call ‘shark depredation’,” said Vardon.

Over the years many fish species have been in decline on the reef. “Whilst most fish stocks are in good shape, some stocks like snapper, black jewfish, Spanish mackerel, and pearl perch are at risk,” said a spokesperson for Fisheries Queensland.

On the clear waters, as the Dragon Lady glides over the reef, Adamson is acutely aware of the need to reduce shark depredation, and these devices may provide answers. “We’re hoping to reduce our fish losses from 80% to 50%, hopefully even less.”

Trialing the devices

The fewer lost to sharks the greater the number of fish will be left swimming in the Great Barrier Reef.

Years ago, Adamson read an article from the University of Western Australia documenting research into electromagnetic technology and watched the development of devices such as the ones to be attached to the Dragon Lady.

Today the technology is untested in Queensland for shark depredation but aims to beam out signals that disrupt and confuse the sixth sense of the animal.

“Surfers use a similar device. They strap a deterrent onto their legs and the sharks become confused and leave the surfers to ride the waves unharmed.”

Now with the grant, the Dragon Lady will trial the devices, that, if successful, could be adopted by line fishers making a small grant and a game-changer for the environment.

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