Queensland government insists killing sharks in interest of public safety but officials say it is impossible to know if they injured tourists

This article is more than 2 years old

This article is more than 2 years old

Three tiger sharks have been killed by the Queensland government after life-threatening attacks on a woman and a girl, but officials say it is impossible to know if they caused the bites.

Hannah Papps, 12, was bitten on her right leg while swimming in Cid harbour with her father and sister on Thursday, less than 24 hours after Tasmanian Justine Barwick, 46, was bitten on her left thigh while snorkelling in the same area.

Baited hooks dropped into Sawmill Bay by Fisheries Queensland officials on Friday have since caught a two-metre tiger shark, a 2.6-metre tiger shark and a 3.3-metre tiger shark.

Two tiger sharks killed in Whitsundays after attacks on tourists Read more

The state government insists killing the sharks is in the interest of public safety, even though it unclear whether they were behind the attacks. The sharks were to be cut open and measured before being dumped at sea.

Both victims remain in hospitals in Brisbane.

Barwick was last known to be in intensive care after 18 hours of reconstructive surgery to her injured right leg.

Meanwhile, Papps’s family has expressed gratitude for the quick actions of those involved in her rescue.

“We would like to thank everyone who has helped and cared for Hannah, including the police, emergency services and the hospital teams,” the girl’s family said on Friday.

“We ask that everyone, including the media, please respect our family’s privacy during this very difficult time so we can focus our energies on Hannah’s recovery.”

Environmentalists said baiting and killing sharks after the attacks gave swimmers a false sense of security and would not prevent more bites.

Sea Shepherd Australia and Humane Society International said human safety was paramount but that killing the tiger sharks was not the answer.

“Public support for these shark control methods is dropping off,” HSI marine campaigner Lawrence Chlebeck said Sunday. “We acknowledge the need for the use of technology and reducing these sorts of incidences ... but drumlines have been in the water since 1962, that’s 60 years ago now.

“The technology is there and we’ve moved on.”

Chlebeck and Sea Shepherd’s Jonathan Clark said personal shark deterrent devices, aerial spotters, drone surveys, public education and alert systems played a bigger role in protecting ocean-goers.

“Stop the nonsense about speaking of ‘effectiveness’ only in terms of their ability to kill sharks,” Clark said. “That bit is easy and it’s lazy policy. Making beaches actually safer is much harder and unrelated to their ability to kill sharks.”