Shark bite-off

What it is

Shark bite-off, or depredation, is when a shark partially or completely consumes a fish before it can be brought onboard the boat or once the fish has been released.

Why it matters

Nothing ruins the fishing experience like a shark taking a prized catch before it is landed. The shark issue has become increasingly common over the last decade to the extent that shark bite-offs are the number one issue facing recreational fishers in coastal waters north of Geraldton. The incidents of bite-offs is so common fishers are afraid it may be impacting on fish stocks.

What Recfishwest is doing

For more than a decade Recfishwest has been fighting for action to reduce shark bite-off. We have encouraged research into the effectiveness of deterrents using fishing licence money. We have participated in numerous workshops on bite-off, met with international experts on the issue and presented a proposal to address the issue to government. Recfishwest has raised this issue with the Commonwealth Fisheries Research and Development Corporation and provided advice on a current project they are funding. Recfishwest has heard the community and carried their voice to the highest levels of government consistently raising this issue with multiple Fisheries Ministers.

Recfishwest shark bite-off position statement

Recfishwest shark bite-off program proposal to the Minister for Fisheries

Discussion paper for the FRDC National Workshop on Shark Depredation in Australian Fisheries March 2022

Synopsis of discussions, presentations, and attendee comments collated from the shark depredation workshops facilitated by FRDC through May and June 2022

Shark depredation: future directions in research and management – Mitchell et al.(2023)

What you can do