The ’humpback highway’ season launch for 2025 was honoured with a sunset ceremony at Noosa Main Beach on Friday 13 June, where organisers called for the removal of shark nets.
Hosted by Noosa Biosphere and Surfrider Foundation, organiser Peppie Simpson said the event hoped to “just let the whales know how much we love them“.
Internationally recognised sand sculptor Dennis Massoud could be seen creating a large whale for the ceremony before Kabi Kabi elders performed a Welcome to Country.
“Next year we might look at doing something a bit bigger, but this is perfect,“ Peppi said, from the Noosa group Oceans For All.
“I wanted lots of children here because we’d love to finish the ceremony with the children putting their hands in the sand as a commitment to the oceans for the future.“
Peppi said they’re worried about the State Government’s decision to invest more than $88 million over four years into a Shark Control Management Plan that expands the use of nets and drum lines on beaches including Peregian.
“Noosa is a biosphere. We need to be leaders in this. A biosphere isn’t a community that kills animals in their bay, you know. We’ve got to get a lot smarter,“ she said.
“We’ve got three scientists working with us. All of which say, there’s no science and no logic in the nets whatsoever. We want everyone to be safe. And of course, that’s people as well. We just really want to find technology whereby we can all live in harmony in the ocean. Sandy is a great supporter of ours.“
Noosa MP Sandy Bolton touched on the new Shark Control Plan in her recent adjournment speech in parliament, with the KPMG review saying that the current program harms our environment, recommending removing shark nets during whale migration season as done elsewhere.
Despite this and after five years of trialling and researching environmentally friendly alternates, including drones, the plan instead increases outdated approaches by emphasising all year shark net use, the expansion of nets and more baiting.
This year, more than 40,000 whales are expected to pass through the Queensland coastline between June and November, making for an extraordinary natural spectacle off Noosa’s shores.
Conservationist Jarrah Small said, “It’s so incredible to see so many people here who obviously care so deeply about our amazing whales and all of our incredible marine species here in Noosa.“
“I’m here today as a young 16-year-old who lives in Noosa, looking out there in the ocean, and I want to do as much as I can to protect our marine environment.
“Each whale season, it’s always in the back of my mind, ’What is going to happen to our whales when they come through Noosa with those nets out there?’
“I agree with Peppi that we need to have more education and awareness on these nets, so we can have better alternatives, and when the whales return to Noosa they can have that beautiful, sacred experience that they deserve.“
The government says the new plan, which will begin in July, combines proven safety measures like shark nets and drumlines at more Queensland beaches whilst prioritising innovative technologies like drone surveillance and whale-deterrent measures. It also includes expanded research into shark populations, including into the impact of the Shark Control Program (SCP) on target shark species.
Sandy is encouraging all to share their views, whether for or against, to the relevant ministers and her office to inform ongoing efforts and advocacy.
– Minister for Primary Industries – primaryindustries@ministerial.qld.gov.au
– Minister for the Environment and Tourism – environment@ministerial.qld.gov.au
– Sandy’s office – noosa@parliament.qld.gov.au
