1-31 May 2018

Operation

The six-month SMART drumline trial at Kiama and Ulladulla ended on 2nd May, while the total number of SMART drumlines deployed daily at Ballina-Lennox Head increased from 15 to 20 on 4th May 2018. During May 2018, SMART drumlines were deployed for 17 days at Ballina-Lennox Head, 28 Evans Head, and two days at Kiama and Ulladulla. Environmental conditions determined how long SMART drumlines were deployed on any given day, ranging from 5:02h to 10:37h. On average, SMART drumlines were deployed daily for 8:20h at Ballina-Lennox Head, 9:05h at Kiama, 9:19h at Evans Head, and 10:00h at Ulladulla.

Total catches

During May 2018, three target sharks were caught (Table 1 and 2): one White Shark (female) from Ballina-Lennox Head; and two Bull Sharks (both female), one from each of Ballina-Lennox Head and Evans Head. No target sharks were caught at Kiama or Ulladulla.

A total of eight non-target animals were caught (Table 1 and 3), including three Smooth Hammerheads (Ballina-Lennox Head) and five Common Blacktip Sharks (3 Ballina-Lennox Head and 2 Evans Head).

All animals were released alive.

Comments

When the contractor responded to five alerts that had no catch, they found that two hooks had no bait, two hooks had the bait fully intact, and one hook had 50% of the bait remaining.

One SMART drumline failed to set off an alert at Boulders Beach, Ballina on 28 May 2018. When the contractor arrived at the drumline for retrieval at the end of the day, a Smooth Hammerhead was found alive on the line (Table 1). It was tagged and released immediately.

All other caught animals triggered an alert to the DPI contractors who responded and were at the SMART drumline within an average of 19 minutes.

Table 1: The date and time of capture of species and their sizes (total length in m), sex, and status during the month of May 2018.

^a This individual dropped off the hook, as the animal was secured alongside the boat, therefore size was estimated.
* indicates where no alert was received and the shark was found during retrieval of SMART drumlines at the end of the day.

Table 2: Cumulative total of target shark species caught on SMART drumlines since December 2016 at Ballina-Lennox Head (BL), Evans Head (EH), Coffs Harbour (CH), Forster (F), Kiama (K) and Ulladulla (U).

^a 1 individual died
^b 1 individual was found dead on Airforce Beach, Evans Head on 12 May 2017 after being tagged and released on 7 May 2017

Note:

• Ballina and Evans Head trial started 8 December 2016 and will be completed on 30 June 2018 (18 month trial)
• Coffs Harbour and Forster trial started 14 August 2017 and was completed on the 13 February 2018  (6 month trial)
• Kiama and Ulladulla trial started 3 November 2017 and was completed on the 2 May 2018 (6 month trial)

Table 3: Cumulative total of non-target species caught on SMART drumlines since December 2016 at Ballina-Lennox Head (BL), Evans Head (EH), Coffs Harbour (CH), Forster (F), Kiama (K) and Ulladulla (U).

^a Loggerhead Turtle was tangled in the trace (but not hooked)

Table 3 (continued): Cumulative total of non-target species caught on SMART drumlines since December 2016 at Ballina-Lennox Head (BL), Evans Head (EH), Coffs Harbour (CH), Forster (F), Kiama (K) and Ulladulla (U).

^b shark was found dead on the line after an alert

Table 3 (continued): Cumulative total of non-target species caught on SMART drumlines since December 2016 at Ballina-Lennox Head (BL), Evans Head (EH), Coffs Harbour (CH), Forster (F), Kiama (K) and Ulladulla (U).

^c marlin was found dead on the line after an alert