Queensland fishermen claim bull shark populations are out of control

Commercial fishermen on the Gold Coast are raising concerns over the increasing bull shark population, describing it as the worst they've seen in 40 years.

Luke Bradnam, 9News beaches and fishing expert, says that shark catches are increasingly being lost to bull sharks, posing significant financial challenges.

Bradnam proposes commercial fishers be allowed to cull bull sharks larger than 1.5 metres in length.

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He believes this targeted culling would effectively reduce the shark population while benefiting commercial fishing operations.

However, experts have cautioned against action without concrete evidence.

Marine biologist Dr Vincent Raoult believes observed trends may not necessarily indicate a rapid increase in shark populations.

"Fishermen are certainly reporting more shark depredation so that's when the sharks eat the fish they're trying to catch but that doesn't necessarily mean that shark populations are increasing rapidly," Raoult said.

The Department of Primary Industries has initiated a two-year research project to identify suitable mitigation methods.

The project aims to strike a balance between protecting marine ecosystems and supporting sustainable fishing practices.

This article was produced with the assistance of 9ExPress.