The Queensland government has lost its battle for the right to use nets and drumlines to catch and kill sharks in a bid to protect swimmers on the Great Barrier Reef. The state government appeal to maintain its controversial management program was dismissed on Wednesday in the federal court in Sydney.

In April the Administrative Appeals Tribunal upheld a challenge to the program in the Great Barrier Reef marine park by the Humane Society. In its decision, the tribunal said the scientific evidence about “the lethal component” of the shark control program “overwhelmingly” showed it did not reduce the risk of an unprovoked shark attack. The decision means the fisheries department will now be required to carry out the program in a way that avoids killing sharks to the “greatest extent possible”. Authorities will only be permitted to authorise the euthanasia of sharks caught on drumlines on animal welfare grounds.

The target shark list of 19 species is also to be removed from the current permit and all tiger, bull and white sharks caught on drumlines are to be tagged before being released.

The department manages 173 drumlines about 500m offshore at popular beaches in the world heritage-listed marine park.

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