One of Queensland's last remaining commercial shark fishermen warns shark numbers in north Queensland are "out of control" and he is surprised there have not been far more people mauled by the animals.

Key points: Meeting in Whitsundays today to investigate what has caused a spate of shark attacks in the region

Meeting in Whitsundays today to investigate what has caused a spate of shark attacks in the region Environmental campaigns and halving commercial catch numbers had driven a spike in state's shark population, commercial fisher says

Environmental campaigns and halving commercial catch numbers had driven a spike in state's shark population, commercial fisher says First step to finding a solution is to research the environment and sharks involved, marine biologist says

Melbourne tourist Daniel Christidis, 33, died in hospital on Monday night after being attacked while paddleboarding and swimming at Cid Harbour in the Whitsundays.

It was the third shark attack at Cid Harbour since September.

Daniel Christidis died after being mauled by a shark in Cid Harbour on Monday night. ( Twitter )

The State Government has reiterated its opposition to drumlines in Cid Harbour at a roundtable discussion with industry stakeholders in Airlie Beach today.

The crisis talks generated a five-point action plan to improve safety, including $250,000 for research to determine the types of sharks in Cid Harbour and their behaviours.

It also included a high-profile education campaign, and 70 signs and buoys, which have already been erected in the area warning tourists not to swim.

Fisheries Minister Mark Furner said there was evidence drumlines would not work in Cid Harbour on a permanent basis.

"[Drumlines or nets] are a purpose that are useful in 86 locations across the state but it is not suitable in Cid Harbour," he said.

"We know there is something that is happening in Cid Harbour and that's why the group today should do an examination through scientific research."

But shadow tourism minister David Crisafulli has questioned why drumlines were not suitable in Cid Harbour if they were used in other locations around the state.

"If we're prepared to have drumlines and nets right up and down the Queensland coast in every other location, how can we look the people of the Whitsundays in the eye and have them treated as second-class citizens?" he said.

Sharks 'just got bigger and fatter'

Bruce Batch has worked for the same commercial fishery for almost 48 years and fishes in waters from Townsville to Princess Charlotte Bay in far north Queensland.

He said environmental campaigns and a halving in commercial catch numbers by a former federal Labor government had driven a spike in the state's shark population.

"We used to have 300-odd trawlers on the east coast and every night those trawlers would go to work and those packs of sharks would follow those trawlers," he said.

"What's happened is the trawler industry's taken a massive downturn, but those sharks didn't go away — they just got bigger and fatter."

There have been three shark attacks at Cid Harbour since September. ( Facebook: RACQ CQ Rescue )

Mr Batch said there would be a big jump in the number of people attacked along the coast.

"What surprises me is the fact that there isn't more [attacks] — when you actually talk to any commercial fishermen, these animals are now getting larger and larger by the year and they're educated to follow boats," he said.

"They know if they follow a boat they're going to get a feed."

Mr Batch said there used to be a shark take of roughly 1,200 tonnes in Queensland but that was halved by the former federal Labor environment minister Peter Garrett.

"Those sharks have had now 10 to 15 years to grow," he said.

Mr Batch said the issue had also been compounded by the number of net-free and green zones in Queensland waters.

"They sound like a good idea but they themselves were keeping a lot of the bull sharks in control," he said.

"Every river and estuary along the coast is now nearly shut to commercial fishing and that has allowed those bull sharks to breed and increase and grow, to a stage where they now leave the estuaries and are going out into the wild and becoming a big problem."

One of the tiger sharks caught in Cid Harbour in September. ( Instagram: sailingpopeye )

Mr Batch said there was no easy solution to the burgeoning shark population.

"I don't know what the answer is, but our line fishery is now having its own set of problems, with these animals that follow the dories around and just take fish off fishing lines," he said.

"Talk to any avid recreational fishermen in north Queensland and they'll tell you there's a massive shark problem.

"Some of those guys just leave grounds, but by the time they get to the next one, those packs of animals are pretty smart and they know where the outboards are going or where the engines are going and they just follow them."

Shark numbers 'out of control'

He said environmental groups campaigned against what he described as a very sustainable fishery industry, and persuaded major supermarkets to remove shark meat, known as flake, from shelves.

"All the pensioners and older people used to be able to afford a feed of fish but they can't afford that $60 to $70 per kilo stuff now," he said.

Mr Batch said there used to be a shark take of roughly 1,200 tonnes in Queensland. ( Supplied: Josh Blank )

"This was a very sustainable industry until WWF [World Wildlife Fund] got involved in it and there are very very few people now who use flake, despite the fact there's nothing wrong with it.

"We used to have a 1,200-tonne take a year in Queensland and that now is probably down to less than 100 tonnes and those sharks are still getting caught but you haven't got a market for them so you can't use them — you just discard them."

Mr Batch said everyone who attended today's round table meeting at Airlie Beach needed to go out with fishermen who were regularly in the area to see the shark numbers for themselves.

"When you're out here on the water and you see the amount of sharks and the amount of large sharks, it's out of control and I don't know what the answer is," he said.

"Talk to the guys that make their living out on the water — they've certainly got a different concept of what's going on than the guys who are sitting on their tiny seats in offices.