A RESPECTED marine biologist and researcher has called for a shark feeding and research program to be introduced to the Gold Coast.

Griffith University researcher Dr Jan-Olaf Meynecke said a carefully-controlled program had the potential to generate tens of millions of dollars for the economy annually, while attracting more cashed-up adventure tourists to the city.

He said according to a recent study by the Australian Institute of Marine Science, the shark diving industry in Fiji generates $US42m every year and attracts divers from around the world.

Dr Meynecke has just returned from investigating a bull shark feeding and research program at Pacific Harbour at Viti Levu.

media_camera A 3.2m female bull shark takes a fish head from a diver in Fiji.

He said he was very impressed with how safely it was run and the revenue it was generating. At the same time, he said the program, which was run 8km offshore, was protecting sharks that would have been killed for the shark fin market in China.

Dr Meynecke said there had been no shark attacks or fatalities during the program.

“The experience was a real eye-opener,” he said.

“(It) made we wonder why one country earns millions of dollars from shark watching, yet in Queensland we spend at least $2.3m dollars every year on killing sharks?”

The marine biologist has been involved in juvenile bull shark research on the Gold Coast.

A highlight of his Fiji trip was being close to a 3.2m female shark being handfed.

He was confident a similar program could be successfully run on the Gold Coast, if it was managed with very strict protocol and in clear water. “Clear water enables the sharks to use their eyesight and not their electric sensors to assess what is happening during the feeding program, which is very important,” he said.

Dr Meynecke said an artificial reef at Golden Gate, 8km offshore from Main Beach, could be developed as a possible shark diving site.

“This would have the required depth of 30 metres and clear water most months of the year,” he said.

“Other possibilities are Casino Reef and Diamond Reef, (located) 10km offshore from Surfers Paradise and with depths of between 30 metres and 40 metres.”

He said other sites further out to sea and also in the East Australian Current could be considered.

Dr Meynecke said it would take two to three years to attract enough sharks to a site on the Gold Coast before it could be set up as a controlled shark feeding and research area.

Gold Coast Tourism boss Martin Winter said while he was in favour of more tourist attractions for the city, a lot of money was spent on netting sharks and the Gold Coast was renowned for its safe beaches.

He said a shark feeding program could be too risky.

“One bad incident could have a seriously detrimental impact on our tourist industry,” he said.

“A program like this would have to be very carefully weighed up, scientifically and rationally, before it could even be considered for our city.”

To view footage of Dr Meynecke’s bull shark feeding experience in Fiji, visit goldcoast.com.au.