Local fishermen have drafted a petition to adjust size and possession limits for shark fishing, calling for better population management following the tragic death of a 17-year-old girl in a shark attack at Woorim, Bribie Island, on February 3.
Charlize Zmuda, captain of the Bribie Island Surf Lifesaving Club in 2024, was fatally attacked by a shark while swimming approximately 100 meters offshore.
The Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) treated Miss Zmuda for life-threatening upper body injuries following the 4:45 pm attack, but she tragically died on the beach.
Miss Zmuda’s Instagram depicts a summer spent enjoying the coastline with friends.
Pumicestone Passage Pirates Inc., the region’s largest fishing community with over 14,500 active members, is seeking community input on a formal review and potential repeal of Queensland’s 1.5m maximum shark retention rule.
A Pirates spokesperson said the regulation has become a growing concern among recreational fishers, spearfishers, and local communities, “particularly in light of the increasing frequency of shark attacks and fatalities in Queensland waters over the past two decades”.
The Department of Primary Industries Queensland mandates a maximum shark length of 150 cm or an interdorsal length of 60 cm, with a possession limit of one shark per person and a maximum of two per boat when carrying two or more passengers.
The Pumicestone Passage Pirates are requesting;
- Abolishment of the 1.5m maximum length rules to allow for the responsible take of large sharks under sustainable fishing guidelines.
- Implement Evidence-Based Shark Management – Introducing balanced measures that support marine conservation while ensuring public safety.
- Consultation with Recreational & Commercial Fishing Communities – Engaging key stakeholders in developing effective solutions.
“We respectfully request support in addressing this matter and look forward to discussing how we can work together to implement safer, more effective shark management policies for Queensland’s waters,” The Pirates state.
The National Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of Sharks was last updated in 2012.
