Permanent percussion lines for sharks are excluded for Cid Harbor after a fatal attack

"They are defending this case because they do not want to give tourists a false sense of security that the entire Whitsundays would be safe," she said.

"We must be aware that it is their habitat and we must make sure that when we swim in their habitat, we are aware of the risks."

Jones said the experts felt the battery lines were not a long-term solution for the Whitsundays.

"We are talking about a very large area and I certainly would not want the message that was circulating to be clear: to swim safely in the Whitsundays without any guarantee of their safety," she said.

Jones said Tourism Whitsundays is working closely with tourism operators to ensure that tourists are aware of shark risks.

"We are working with yacht charterers to make sure they advise tourists about the risks of swimming at dawn or dusk and at Cid Harbor," she said.

Mrs. Jones said that her thoughts and prayers were with this man's family.

"It's heartbreaking to see another tragedy like this," she said.

This follows the call by Whitsundays MP Jason Costigan (LNP) for the immediate and permanent installation of battery lines at Cid Harbor.

"What are they waiting for? Another attack? Another death?" He asked.

"I do not claim to be an expert in sharks, but what I do know is that human life should precede sharks every day of the week and that public safety is of paramount importance.

"I do not want our tourism industry to go to the bathroom and go through the back door."

Mr. Costigan said there should be a frank and open discussion between the tourism and fishing industries, scientists and shark experts about the "place we are going to go."

He said he believed it was the first deadly shark attack in the Whitsundays of history.

"We do not need an exam, if you want an exam, go to Broadway," Costigan said.

"Keep up with that."

Mr Costigan said that the Queensland Shark Control Program was in place in Cairns, Townsville, Mackay and the Gold Coast, but that no protection was in place at the Whitsundays.

Late last week, a petition of 782 signatures was tabled in the Queensland Parliament, calling on the government to immediately stop using shark nets and drum ropes to stop the carnage inflicted. by the shark control program.

"There is evidence that non-lethal aquatic safety programs, including the use of offshore pools, shark watching and digital shark monitoring, protect both humans and sharks," indicates the petition.

But Fisheries Minister Mark Furner said the goal of the shark control program was to make the beaches safer for swimmers.

"The Queensland government will not compromise human security and continues to support the shark control program with its combination of shark nets and battery lines on 86 of Queensland's most popular beaches," he writes in his response. .

Since the launch of the shark control program in 1962, a shark has died on a shark control range in Queensland.

Mr. Furner's office was contacted for a comment.