Helping assess the safety and sustainability of some of Australia’s beaches

Shark Control Program

Looking to make more informed decisions related to shark control, our team was asked to collate, analyse, and present a range of data for a number of beaches in Australia.

As part of the program, data was consolidated into a comprehensive web-based application. The application enables data from the beaches to be viewed either alone or in combination for any of the individual beaches, or at a broader spatial scale. It includes all components for each of the relevant data types, including existing shark control gear, benthic habitat, beach topography, tidal data, population and visitation statistics, fisheries catch data, and locations of previous shark attack incidents. The development of the interface required the collation of spatial and non-spatial information, customisation of a web-based platform using ArcGIS, and analysis of the spatial information and the system hosting the program.

Ultimately, this program will help reduce the risk of shark bites in coastal waters, providing a safer environment and helping minimise impact to marine life and the environment.