More than 700 marine animals were killed in shark nets and drum lines across Queensland beaches in 2023, a wildlife charity says.
Humane Society International Australia has called on the state government to retire "outdated" shark nets, describing them as death traps.
Two dugongs, nine dolphins and five turtles were among the animals to die in nets off Queensland, Humane Society International Australia said.
Among the animals caught were 11 humpback whales.
"Thankfully those whales survived entanglement," the society's Lawrence Chlebeck said.
"But those instances are so exhausting and stressful for the animals that there's really no guarantee for long-term survival."
About 1000 animals were caught in nets and drum lines in 2023, according to Queensland's Department of Agriculture and Fisheries.
Less than half of these were target species of sharks.
A state department spokesperson said the bycatch of non-target species was "comparable to previous years and within the range of normal year to year variability".
The Queensland government uses nets and drum lines across the state's beaches as part of their shark control program.
"It's not effective, it's outdated," Mr Chlebeck, a marine biologist, said.
"This program was introduced in the 1960s.
"We have over 60 years now of new information and progress in technology and we understand shark behaviour better."
Mr Chlebeck called the current program a "blunt instrument" and said nets and drum lines could even attract sharks closer to the beach.
"We've seen carcasses come up from the nets with large bites out of them," he said.
"Having these death traps right next to our popular beaches is really not a great idea when you're trying to reduce the risk of shark bite."
Catch alert drum lines are being trialled in waters around the Great Barrier Reef.
Mr Chlebeck said he would like the government to expand their use across the state.
The catch alert drum line works through GPS signal, notifying authorities when an animal is caught.
"It's meant to be managed non-lethally," Mr Chlebeck said.
"If it's a non-target species of shark or a turtle or dolphin (caught in the net)...it's immediately released."
He said statistics from those trials showed those animals had a high survivability.
"If it is a target shark like a large great white or large tiger or bull shark, that animal is tagged and relocated," he said.
Mr Chlebeck said drone surveillance, personal shark deterrents and education are also good, non-lethal options to keep beach-goers safe.
The department spokesperson said using electronic warning devices to deter whales and dolphins from swimming near the nets and regularly checking them for captured animals were among measures already in place.
