Question regarding the detection of a tagged great white shark found dead near Geraldton and the denial of a research request for the shark's body. The answer confirms detection and explains the timing of the research request.

AnsweredQoN 1426Legislative Council
Asked
12 August 2014
Portfolio
Fisheries

QuestionView source ↗

(1) I refer to the four metre great white shark found dead at Coronation Beach, north of Geraldton on 15 July 2014, and ask was the acoustic tag that was fitted to the shark detected at any point by Fisheries owned "early warning" acoustic receivers located at various locations off the Western Australian coast? (2) If yes to (1), please give the dates, times and locations of each occasion that the tag was detected in West Australian waters? (3) If no to (1), when will it be possible to know whether the shark was detected by the Department of Fisheries other acoustic receivers, that need to be taken from the water and downloaded on land? (4) Please explain why a request by a researcher at the University of Western Australia to use the dead shark’s body for research purposes was not met?

AnswerView source ↗

Answered
11 September 2014
Responded by
Minister for Fisheries
Response time
30 days
(1) Yes
(2) It was detected eight times between 05:06 and 05:18 (WST) by a single receiver, 13 nautical miles SSW of Chatham Island
(3) Not applicable
(4) The request from the University of Western Australia was made following the disposal of the shark.

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