Shark Culling 'last resort'
Authorities will opt to close beaches in populated areas to protect swimmers instead of pre-emptively killing sharks that stray too close, the head of the Department of Fisheries has revealed.
Fisheries director-general Stuart Smith conceded yesterday that extraordinary powers allowing him to order the destruction of white sharks before they attacked were seldom likely to be used.
Mr Smith said the only circumstances in which the measure would be taken might be when authorities were not in a position to close beaches or warn people going into the water. This would include a shark swimming close to a place such as Rottnest Island.
In a policy shift by the State Government after five fatal shark attacks in 10 months, Mr Smith was given the authority to order the catching and killing of a shark deemed an "imminent threat".
Releasing policy guidelines, Mr Smith said what constituted an imminent danger would vary depending on the circumstances but he would not hesitate to issue an order if required. He said this was only likely to happen once all other avenues had been exhausted.
"The priority there is to get people out of the water so there can't be a threat of attack," Mr Smith said.
"Aside from closing beaches, the sort of things we would do is what we have done with the recent situation in Ocean Reef (where tagged white sharks repeatedly set off acoustic receivers).
"We had vessels out on the water and staff at boat ramps so people who might enter the water over the side of a boat are expected to be aware there is a risk and they shouldn't enter the water."
He said social media and issuing media alerts would also be used.
Daniel Mercer
Site Admin - Just ask if you need assistance
Faulkner Family
Posts: 18171
Date Joined: 11/03/08
sounds like they came to
sounds like they came to their sences. leave the sharks alone, they are only doing what comes natural to they the same way we go and hunt for our food
RUSS and SANDY. A family that fishes together stays together
muskrat
Posts: 37
Date Joined: 06/11/12
yeah i agree with Faulkner
yeah i agree with Faulkner Family, They will stop eventually just give them some time and leave them alone
Willlo
Posts: 1490
Date Joined: 07/10/11
Yeah leave them alone so they
Yeah leave them alone so they can produce more and more,build little pools on the beachside (nice and safe) and close all beaches easy fix.
Call Sign - BZ785
Haynes Hunter Prowler CC
crasny1
Posts: 7009
Date Joined: 16/10/08
Oh no
Here we go again.
I suspect if MY theory about a rogue is correct, its going to happen again. Removing one menacing shark is not going to hurt their survival, and might just stop attacks. But it is my theory, and I dont support killing for killing sake.
Poddyfish, did you think the GW you guys encountered was aiming to eat you guys??
"I would like to die on Mars. Just not on impact!!" _ Elon Musk
troy fuller
Posts: 411
Date Joined: 30/08/10
It's good
We had fisheries come up to us when we launched a tinny at ocean reef the day after all those shark sightings warning us about sharks and make sure we had all out safety aquipemnt.
they were there when we left and were then when we got back about 10 hours later
sunshine
Posts: 2641
Date Joined: 03/03/09
I second the rogue thereory
And the one that paid us two visits - the first of which we did not even see but just felt the wash from it's tail - was checking us out closely - now whether that was purely curiosity or out of a desire to find food is anyones guess - just know it put the fear of god into us which regretfully remains and has put me off diving locally yet I was a fanatical diver before that - yet I still thoroughly enjoy diving around Dampier despite the large tigers etc - down here though .......nahhh
tangles
Posts: 1367
Date Joined: 17/12/06
samesame
fully agree w the rogue sharks. these creatures are old wise and not stupid. due west off kalbarri the wetliners often see a big white out there who is a local out there. that shark has followed the boys from shallow bank 10mile north of north island and they saw him out north of big bank that night. that was 40miles from shallow bank. terrotorial monsters like that have stamped their authority on a large feeding area and will patrol that area. unfortunately fisheries and university studies think they know more than generation fishermen who know the ocean and whats in it! fisheries know this but wont agree or listen to local fishermen!