❓ A WA parliamentary question addresses shark attack prevention measures, focusing on the effectiveness of shark tracking technology and the actual risk to swimmers. The Minister acknowledges the project's potential while emphasizing the need for personal vigilance.
AnsweredQoN 410Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
shark attack — preventive MEASURES
I refer the minister to the article entitled “High-tech shark alert for Perth” printed in The West Australian on Friday, 1 May 2009 that asserts — Perth beaches will be lined with tracking stations able to detect tagged white pointer sharks for a project that could help protect swimmers and determine whether sharks stalk coastal areas after developing a taste for human flesh. (1) What species of shark is suspected of being responsible for most attacks in Australian waters? (2) What is the real risk of shark attack to Western Australian swimmers in our waters? (3) Does the minister believe this project will protect Perth swimmers from shark attack? (4) If yes to (3), how? (5) If no to (3), is the minister not allowing the Department of Fisheries to mislead the Western Australian public? Hon NORMAN MOORE
I refer the minister to the article entitled “High-tech shark alert for Perth” printed in The West Australian on Friday, 1 May 2009 that asserts — Perth beaches will be lined with tracking stations able to detect tagged white pointer sharks for a project that could help protect swimmers and determine whether sharks stalk coastal areas after developing a taste for human flesh. (1) What species of shark is suspected of being responsible for most attacks in Australian waters? (2) What is the real risk of shark attack to Western Australian swimmers in our waters? (3) Does the minister believe this project will protect Perth swimmers from shark attack? (4) If yes to (3), how? (5) If no to (3), is the minister not allowing the Department of Fisheries to mislead the Western Australian public? Hon NORMAN MOORE
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Unfortunately, only Western Australian records are available, not Australian records. Of the 92 recorded shark attacks in Western Australian waters during the past 200 years, 27, or 30 per cent, are attributable to wobbegong sharks. However, all of these resulted in only minor injuries to the victims. The second most commonly identified species in these records is the white shark, which has been responsible for at least 17 attacks during the same period, or 18 per cent of all records. Six of these attacks proved fatal to the victims, making the white shark responsible for more than half of the 11 fatal attacks in which the species responsible was identified. It is also likely that a white shark was responsible for one of the three additional fatal attacks that could not be attributed to a particular species. (2) Although the risk of shark attack to Western Australian swimmers cannot be accurately determined, there have been on average fewer than four shark attacks per year in the state over the past decade. The average rate of fatal attacks over the same period is 0.4 per year. The risk of shark attack is therefore extremely low. (3)-(4) I believe this project could provide information that, along with other strategies, may help to reduce the risk of shark attack. The shark monitoring network project aims to collect information on the occurrence and behaviour of white sharks off the metropolitan coast and, therefore, when and where there are elevated risks of attack. As a shark attack is currently a highly unpredictable event, such information could be used to improve the use of public safety resources such as the Westpac helicopter and response boats. If a tagged shark is detected by one of the communicating receivers that the government has recently provided funding to deploy, it may also be possible to notify surf lifesaving personnel or others before that shark encounters bathers. The Department of Fisheries will be examining whether this technology could be used for providing such alerts. (5) The Department of Fisheries has clearly stated the limitations of this research project. I refer to the department’s media statement issued last week that explains that “While this project will expand the strategies used in WA to deal with shark hazards, no monitoring method can replace the need for commonsense and vigilance by swimmers and other people who enjoy activities in the ocean.”
(2) What is the real risk of shark attack to Western Australian swimmers in our waters? (3) Does the minister believe this project will protect Perth swimmers from shark attack? (4) If yes to (3), how? (5) If no to (3), is the minister not allowing the Department of Fisheries to mislead the Western Australian public? Hon NORMAN MOORE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Unfortunately, only Western Australian records are available, not Australian records. Of the 92 recorded shark attacks in Western Australian waters during the past 200 years, 27, or 30 per cent, are attributable to wobbegong sharks. However, all of these resulted in only minor injuries to the victims. The second most commonly identified species in these records is the white shark, which has been responsible for at least 17 attacks during the same period, or 18 per cent of all records. Six of these attacks proved fatal to the victims, making the white shark responsible for more than half of the 11 fatal attacks in which the species responsible was identified. It is also likely that a white shark was responsible for one of the three additional fatal attacks that could not be attributed to a particular species. (2) Although the risk of shark attack to Western Australian swimmers cannot be accurately determined, there have been on average fewer than four shark attacks per year in the state over the past decade. The average rate of fatal attacks over the same period is 0.4 per year. The risk of shark attack is therefore extremely low. (3)-(4) I believe this project could provide information that, along with other strategies, may help to reduce the risk of shark attack. The shark monitoring network project aims to collect information on the occurrence and behaviour of white sharks off the metropolitan coast and, therefore, when and where there are elevated risks of attack. As a shark attack is currently a highly unpredictable event, such information could be used to improve the use of public safety resources such as the Westpac helicopter and response boats. If a tagged shark is detected by one of the communicating receivers that the government has recently provided funding to deploy, it may also be possible to notify surf lifesaving personnel or others before that shark encounters bathers. The Department of Fisheries will be examining whether this technology could be used for providing such alerts. (5) The Department of Fisheries has clearly stated the limitations of this research project. I refer to the department’s media statement issued last week that explains that “While this project will expand the strategies used in WA to deal with shark hazards, no monitoring method can replace the need for commonsense and vigilance by swimmers and other people who enjoy activities in the ocean.”
(3) Does the minister believe this project will protect Perth swimmers from shark attack? (4) If yes to (3), how? (5) If no to (3), is the minister not allowing the Department of Fisheries to mislead the Western Australian public? Hon NORMAN MOORE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Unfortunately, only Western Australian records are available, not Australian records. Of the 92 recorded shark attacks in Western Australian waters during the past 200 years, 27, or 30 per cent, are attributable to wobbegong sharks. However, all of these resulted in only minor injuries to the victims. The second most commonly identified species in these records is the white shark, which has been responsible for at least 17 attacks during the same period, or 18 per cent of all records. Six of these attacks proved fatal to the victims, making the white shark responsible for more than half of the 11 fatal attacks in which the species responsible was identified. It is also likely that a white shark was responsible for one of the three additional fatal attacks that could not be attributed to a particular species. (2) Although the risk of shark attack to Western Australian swimmers cannot be accurately determined, there have been on average fewer than four shark attacks per year in the state over the past decade. The average rate of fatal attacks over the same period is 0.4 per year. The risk of shark attack is therefore extremely low. (3)-(4) I believe this project could provide information that, along with other strategies, may help to reduce the risk of shark attack. The shark monitoring network project aims to collect information on the occurrence and behaviour of white sharks off the metropolitan coast and, therefore, when and where there are elevated risks of attack. As a shark attack is currently a highly unpredictable event, such information could be used to improve the use of public safety resources such as the Westpac helicopter and response boats. If a tagged shark is detected by one of the communicating receivers that the government has recently provided funding to deploy, it may also be possible to notify surf lifesaving personnel or others before that shark encounters bathers. The Department of Fisheries will be examining whether this technology could be used for providing such alerts. (5) The Department of Fisheries has clearly stated the limitations of this research project. I refer to the department’s media statement issued last week that explains that “While this project will expand the strategies used in WA to deal with shark hazards, no monitoring method can replace the need for commonsense and vigilance by swimmers and other people who enjoy activities in the ocean.”
(4) If yes to (3), how? (5) If no to (3), is the minister not allowing the Department of Fisheries to mislead the Western Australian public? Hon NORMAN MOORE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Unfortunately, only Western Australian records are available, not Australian records. Of the 92 recorded shark attacks in Western Australian waters during the past 200 years, 27, or 30 per cent, are attributable to wobbegong sharks. However, all of these resulted in only minor injuries to the victims. The second most commonly identified species in these records is the white shark, which has been responsible for at least 17 attacks during the same period, or 18 per cent of all records. Six of these attacks proved fatal to the victims, making the white shark responsible for more than half of the 11 fatal attacks in which the species responsible was identified. It is also likely that a white shark was responsible for one of the three additional fatal attacks that could not be attributed to a particular species. (2) Although the risk of shark attack to Western Australian swimmers cannot be accurately determined, there have been on average fewer than four shark attacks per year in the state over the past decade. The average rate of fatal attacks over the same period is 0.4 per year. The risk of shark attack is therefore extremely low. (3)-(4) I believe this project could provide information that, along with other strategies, may help to reduce the risk of shark attack. The shark monitoring network project aims to collect information on the occurrence and behaviour of white sharks off the metropolitan coast and, therefore, when and where there are elevated risks of attack. As a shark attack is currently a highly unpredictable event, such information could be used to improve the use of public safety resources such as the Westpac helicopter and response boats. If a tagged shark is detected by one of the communicating receivers that the government has recently provided funding to deploy, it may also be possible to notify surf lifesaving personnel or others before that shark encounters bathers. The Department of Fisheries will be examining whether this technology could be used for providing such alerts. (5) The Department of Fisheries has clearly stated the limitations of this research project. I refer to the department’s media statement issued last week that explains that “While this project will expand the strategies used in WA to deal with shark hazards, no monitoring method can replace the need for commonsense and vigilance by swimmers and other people who enjoy activities in the ocean.”
(5) If no to (3), is the minister not allowing the Department of Fisheries to mislead the Western Australian public? Hon NORMAN MOORE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Unfortunately, only Western Australian records are available, not Australian records. Of the 92 recorded shark attacks in Western Australian waters during the past 200 years, 27, or 30 per cent, are attributable to wobbegong sharks. However, all of these resulted in only minor injuries to the victims. The second most commonly identified species in these records is the white shark, which has been responsible for at least 17 attacks during the same period, or 18 per cent of all records. Six of these attacks proved fatal to the victims, making the white shark responsible for more than half of the 11 fatal attacks in which the species responsible was identified. It is also likely that a white shark was responsible for one of the three additional fatal attacks that could not be attributed to a particular species. (2) Although the risk of shark attack to Western Australian swimmers cannot be accurately determined, there have been on average fewer than four shark attacks per year in the state over the past decade. The average rate of fatal attacks over the same period is 0.4 per year. The risk of shark attack is therefore extremely low. (3)-(4) I believe this project could provide information that, along with other strategies, may help to reduce the risk of shark attack. The shark monitoring network project aims to collect information on the occurrence and behaviour of white sharks off the metropolitan coast and, therefore, when and where there are elevated risks of attack. As a shark attack is currently a highly unpredictable event, such information could be used to improve the use of public safety resources such as the Westpac helicopter and response boats. If a tagged shark is detected by one of the communicating receivers that the government has recently provided funding to deploy, it may also be possible to notify surf lifesaving personnel or others before that shark encounters bathers. The Department of Fisheries will be examining whether this technology could be used for providing such alerts. (5) The Department of Fisheries has clearly stated the limitations of this research project. I refer to the department’s media statement issued last week that explains that “While this project will expand the strategies used in WA to deal with shark hazards, no monitoring method can replace the need for commonsense and vigilance by swimmers and other people who enjoy activities in the ocean.”
Hon NORMAN MOORE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Unfortunately, only Western Australian records are available, not Australian records. Of the 92 recorded shark attacks in Western Australian waters during the past 200 years, 27, or 30 per cent, are attributable to wobbegong sharks. However, all of these resulted in only minor injuries to the victims. The second most commonly identified species in these records is the white shark, which has been responsible for at least 17 attacks during the same period, or 18 per cent of all records. Six of these attacks proved fatal to the victims, making the white shark responsible for more than half of the 11 fatal attacks in which the species responsible was identified. It is also likely that a white shark was responsible for one of the three additional fatal attacks that could not be attributed to a particular species. (2) Although the risk of shark attack to Western Australian swimmers cannot be accurately determined, there have been on average fewer than four shark attacks per year in the state over the past decade. The average rate of fatal attacks over the same period is 0.4 per year. The risk of shark attack is therefore extremely low. (3)-(4) I believe this project could provide information that, along with other strategies, may help to reduce the risk of shark attack. The shark monitoring network project aims to collect information on the occurrence and behaviour of white sharks off the metropolitan coast and, therefore, when and where there are elevated risks of attack. As a shark attack is currently a highly unpredictable event, such information could be used to improve the use of public safety resources such as the Westpac helicopter and response boats. If a tagged shark is detected by one of the communicating receivers that the government has recently provided funding to deploy, it may also be possible to notify surf lifesaving personnel or others before that shark encounters bathers. The Department of Fisheries will be examining whether this technology could be used for providing such alerts. (5) The Department of Fisheries has clearly stated the limitations of this research project. I refer to the department’s media statement issued last week that explains that “While this project will expand the strategies used in WA to deal with shark hazards, no monitoring method can replace the need for commonsense and vigilance by swimmers and other people who enjoy activities in the ocean.”
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Unfortunately, only Western Australian records are available, not Australian records. Of the 92 recorded shark attacks in Western Australian waters during the past 200 years, 27, or 30 per cent, are attributable to wobbegong sharks. However, all of these resulted in only minor injuries to the victims. The second most commonly identified species in these records is the white shark, which has been responsible for at least 17 attacks during the same period, or 18 per cent of all records. Six of these attacks proved fatal to the victims, making the white shark responsible for more than half of the 11 fatal attacks in which the species responsible was identified. It is also likely that a white shark was responsible for one of the three additional fatal attacks that could not be attributed to a particular species. (2) Although the risk of shark attack to Western Australian swimmers cannot be accurately determined, there have been on average fewer than four shark attacks per year in the state over the past decade. The average rate of fatal attacks over the same period is 0.4 per year. The risk of shark attack is therefore extremely low. (3)-(4) I believe this project could provide information that, along with other strategies, may help to reduce the risk of shark attack. The shark monitoring network project aims to collect information on the occurrence and behaviour of white sharks off the metropolitan coast and, therefore, when and where there are elevated risks of attack. As a shark attack is currently a highly unpredictable event, such information could be used to improve the use of public safety resources such as the Westpac helicopter and response boats. If a tagged shark is detected by one of the communicating receivers that the government has recently provided funding to deploy, it may also be possible to notify surf lifesaving personnel or others before that shark encounters bathers. The Department of Fisheries will be examining whether this technology could be used for providing such alerts. (5) The Department of Fisheries has clearly stated the limitations of this research project. I refer to the department’s media statement issued last week that explains that “While this project will expand the strategies used in WA to deal with shark hazards, no monitoring method can replace the need for commonsense and vigilance by swimmers and other people who enjoy activities in the ocean.”
(1) Unfortunately, only Western Australian records are available, not Australian records. Of the 92 recorded shark attacks in Western Australian waters during the past 200 years, 27, or 30 per cent, are attributable to wobbegong sharks. However, all of these resulted in only minor injuries to the victims. The second most commonly identified species in these records is the white shark, which has been responsible for at least 17 attacks during the same period, or 18 per cent of all records. Six of these attacks proved fatal to the victims, making the white shark responsible for more than half of the 11 fatal attacks in which the species responsible was identified. It is also likely that a white shark was responsible for one of the three additional fatal attacks that could not be attributed to a particular species. (2) Although the risk of shark attack to Western Australian swimmers cannot be accurately determined, there have been on average fewer than four shark attacks per year in the state over the past decade. The average rate of fatal attacks over the same period is 0.4 per year. The risk of shark attack is therefore extremely low. (3)-(4) I believe this project could provide information that, along with other strategies, may help to reduce the risk of shark attack. The shark monitoring network project aims to collect information on the occurrence and behaviour of white sharks off the metropolitan coast and, therefore, when and where there are elevated risks of attack. As a shark attack is currently a highly unpredictable event, such information could be used to improve the use of public safety resources such as the Westpac helicopter and response boats. If a tagged shark is detected by one of the communicating receivers that the government has recently provided funding to deploy, it may also be possible to notify surf lifesaving personnel or others before that shark encounters bathers. The Department of Fisheries will be examining whether this technology could be used for providing such alerts. (5) The Department of Fisheries has clearly stated the limitations of this research project. I refer to the department’s media statement issued last week that explains that “While this project will expand the strategies used in WA to deal with shark hazards, no monitoring method can replace the need for commonsense and vigilance by swimmers and other people who enjoy activities in the ocean.”
(2) Although the risk of shark attack to Western Australian swimmers cannot be accurately determined, there have been on average fewer than four shark attacks per year in the state over the past decade. The average rate of fatal attacks over the same period is 0.4 per year. The risk of shark attack is therefore extremely low. (3)-(4) I believe this project could provide information that, along with other strategies, may help to reduce the risk of shark attack. The shark monitoring network project aims to collect information on the occurrence and behaviour of white sharks off the metropolitan coast and, therefore, when and where there are elevated risks of attack. As a shark attack is currently a highly unpredictable event, such information could be used to improve the use of public safety resources such as the Westpac helicopter and response boats. If a tagged shark is detected by one of the communicating receivers that the government has recently provided funding to deploy, it may also be possible to notify surf lifesaving personnel or others before that shark encounters bathers. The Department of Fisheries will be examining whether this technology could be used for providing such alerts. (5) The Department of Fisheries has clearly stated the limitations of this research project. I refer to the department’s media statement issued last week that explains that “While this project will expand the strategies used in WA to deal with shark hazards, no monitoring method can replace the need for commonsense and vigilance by swimmers and other people who enjoy activities in the ocean.”
(3)-(4) I believe this project could provide information that, along with other strategies, may help to reduce the risk of shark attack. The shark monitoring network project aims to collect information on the occurrence and behaviour of white sharks off the metropolitan coast and, therefore, when and where there are elevated risks of attack. As a shark attack is currently a highly unpredictable event, such information could be used to improve the use of public safety resources such as the Westpac helicopter and response boats. If a tagged shark is detected by one of the communicating receivers that the government has recently provided funding to deploy, it may also be possible to notify surf lifesaving personnel or others before that shark encounters bathers. The Department of Fisheries will be examining whether this technology could be used for providing such alerts. (5) The Department of Fisheries has clearly stated the limitations of this research project. I refer to the department’s media statement issued last week that explains that “While this project will expand the strategies used in WA to deal with shark hazards, no monitoring method can replace the need for commonsense and vigilance by swimmers and other people who enjoy activities in the ocean.”
(5) The Department of Fisheries has clearly stated the limitations of this research project. I refer to the department’s media statement issued last week that explains that “While this project will expand the strategies used in WA to deal with shark hazards, no monitoring method can replace the need for commonsense and vigilance by swimmers and other people who enjoy activities in the ocean.”
(2) What is the real risk of shark attack to Western Australian swimmers in our waters? (3) Does the minister believe this project will protect Perth swimmers from shark attack? (4) If yes to (3), how? (5) If no to (3), is the minister not allowing the Department of Fisheries to mislead the Western Australian public? Hon NORMAN MOORE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Unfortunately, only Western Australian records are available, not Australian records. Of the 92 recorded shark attacks in Western Australian waters during the past 200 years, 27, or 30 per cent, are attributable to wobbegong sharks. However, all of these resulted in only minor injuries to the victims. The second most commonly identified species in these records is the white shark, which has been responsible for at least 17 attacks during the same period, or 18 per cent of all records. Six of these attacks proved fatal to the victims, making the white shark responsible for more than half of the 11 fatal attacks in which the species responsible was identified. It is also likely that a white shark was responsible for one of the three additional fatal attacks that could not be attributed to a particular species. (2) Although the risk of shark attack to Western Australian swimmers cannot be accurately determined, there have been on average fewer than four shark attacks per year in the state over the past decade. The average rate of fatal attacks over the same period is 0.4 per year. The risk of shark attack is therefore extremely low. (3)-(4) I believe this project could provide information that, along with other strategies, may help to reduce the risk of shark attack. The shark monitoring network project aims to collect information on the occurrence and behaviour of white sharks off the metropolitan coast and, therefore, when and where there are elevated risks of attack. As a shark attack is currently a highly unpredictable event, such information could be used to improve the use of public safety resources such as the Westpac helicopter and response boats. If a tagged shark is detected by one of the communicating receivers that the government has recently provided funding to deploy, it may also be possible to notify surf lifesaving personnel or others before that shark encounters bathers. The Department of Fisheries will be examining whether this technology could be used for providing such alerts. (5) The Department of Fisheries has clearly stated the limitations of this research project. I refer to the department’s media statement issued last week that explains that “While this project will expand the strategies used in WA to deal with shark hazards, no monitoring method can replace the need for commonsense and vigilance by swimmers and other people who enjoy activities in the ocean.”
(3) Does the minister believe this project will protect Perth swimmers from shark attack? (4) If yes to (3), how? (5) If no to (3), is the minister not allowing the Department of Fisheries to mislead the Western Australian public? Hon NORMAN MOORE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Unfortunately, only Western Australian records are available, not Australian records. Of the 92 recorded shark attacks in Western Australian waters during the past 200 years, 27, or 30 per cent, are attributable to wobbegong sharks. However, all of these resulted in only minor injuries to the victims. The second most commonly identified species in these records is the white shark, which has been responsible for at least 17 attacks during the same period, or 18 per cent of all records. Six of these attacks proved fatal to the victims, making the white shark responsible for more than half of the 11 fatal attacks in which the species responsible was identified. It is also likely that a white shark was responsible for one of the three additional fatal attacks that could not be attributed to a particular species. (2) Although the risk of shark attack to Western Australian swimmers cannot be accurately determined, there have been on average fewer than four shark attacks per year in the state over the past decade. The average rate of fatal attacks over the same period is 0.4 per year. The risk of shark attack is therefore extremely low. (3)-(4) I believe this project could provide information that, along with other strategies, may help to reduce the risk of shark attack. The shark monitoring network project aims to collect information on the occurrence and behaviour of white sharks off the metropolitan coast and, therefore, when and where there are elevated risks of attack. As a shark attack is currently a highly unpredictable event, such information could be used to improve the use of public safety resources such as the Westpac helicopter and response boats. If a tagged shark is detected by one of the communicating receivers that the government has recently provided funding to deploy, it may also be possible to notify surf lifesaving personnel or others before that shark encounters bathers. The Department of Fisheries will be examining whether this technology could be used for providing such alerts. (5) The Department of Fisheries has clearly stated the limitations of this research project. I refer to the department’s media statement issued last week that explains that “While this project will expand the strategies used in WA to deal with shark hazards, no monitoring method can replace the need for commonsense and vigilance by swimmers and other people who enjoy activities in the ocean.”
(4) If yes to (3), how? (5) If no to (3), is the minister not allowing the Department of Fisheries to mislead the Western Australian public? Hon NORMAN MOORE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Unfortunately, only Western Australian records are available, not Australian records. Of the 92 recorded shark attacks in Western Australian waters during the past 200 years, 27, or 30 per cent, are attributable to wobbegong sharks. However, all of these resulted in only minor injuries to the victims. The second most commonly identified species in these records is the white shark, which has been responsible for at least 17 attacks during the same period, or 18 per cent of all records. Six of these attacks proved fatal to the victims, making the white shark responsible for more than half of the 11 fatal attacks in which the species responsible was identified. It is also likely that a white shark was responsible for one of the three additional fatal attacks that could not be attributed to a particular species. (2) Although the risk of shark attack to Western Australian swimmers cannot be accurately determined, there have been on average fewer than four shark attacks per year in the state over the past decade. The average rate of fatal attacks over the same period is 0.4 per year. The risk of shark attack is therefore extremely low. (3)-(4) I believe this project could provide information that, along with other strategies, may help to reduce the risk of shark attack. The shark monitoring network project aims to collect information on the occurrence and behaviour of white sharks off the metropolitan coast and, therefore, when and where there are elevated risks of attack. As a shark attack is currently a highly unpredictable event, such information could be used to improve the use of public safety resources such as the Westpac helicopter and response boats. If a tagged shark is detected by one of the communicating receivers that the government has recently provided funding to deploy, it may also be possible to notify surf lifesaving personnel or others before that shark encounters bathers. The Department of Fisheries will be examining whether this technology could be used for providing such alerts. (5) The Department of Fisheries has clearly stated the limitations of this research project. I refer to the department’s media statement issued last week that explains that “While this project will expand the strategies used in WA to deal with shark hazards, no monitoring method can replace the need for commonsense and vigilance by swimmers and other people who enjoy activities in the ocean.”
(5) If no to (3), is the minister not allowing the Department of Fisheries to mislead the Western Australian public? Hon NORMAN MOORE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Unfortunately, only Western Australian records are available, not Australian records. Of the 92 recorded shark attacks in Western Australian waters during the past 200 years, 27, or 30 per cent, are attributable to wobbegong sharks. However, all of these resulted in only minor injuries to the victims. The second most commonly identified species in these records is the white shark, which has been responsible for at least 17 attacks during the same period, or 18 per cent of all records. Six of these attacks proved fatal to the victims, making the white shark responsible for more than half of the 11 fatal attacks in which the species responsible was identified. It is also likely that a white shark was responsible for one of the three additional fatal attacks that could not be attributed to a particular species. (2) Although the risk of shark attack to Western Australian swimmers cannot be accurately determined, there have been on average fewer than four shark attacks per year in the state over the past decade. The average rate of fatal attacks over the same period is 0.4 per year. The risk of shark attack is therefore extremely low. (3)-(4) I believe this project could provide information that, along with other strategies, may help to reduce the risk of shark attack. The shark monitoring network project aims to collect information on the occurrence and behaviour of white sharks off the metropolitan coast and, therefore, when and where there are elevated risks of attack. As a shark attack is currently a highly unpredictable event, such information could be used to improve the use of public safety resources such as the Westpac helicopter and response boats. If a tagged shark is detected by one of the communicating receivers that the government has recently provided funding to deploy, it may also be possible to notify surf lifesaving personnel or others before that shark encounters bathers. The Department of Fisheries will be examining whether this technology could be used for providing such alerts. (5) The Department of Fisheries has clearly stated the limitations of this research project. I refer to the department’s media statement issued last week that explains that “While this project will expand the strategies used in WA to deal with shark hazards, no monitoring method can replace the need for commonsense and vigilance by swimmers and other people who enjoy activities in the ocean.”
Hon NORMAN MOORE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Unfortunately, only Western Australian records are available, not Australian records. Of the 92 recorded shark attacks in Western Australian waters during the past 200 years, 27, or 30 per cent, are attributable to wobbegong sharks. However, all of these resulted in only minor injuries to the victims. The second most commonly identified species in these records is the white shark, which has been responsible for at least 17 attacks during the same period, or 18 per cent of all records. Six of these attacks proved fatal to the victims, making the white shark responsible for more than half of the 11 fatal attacks in which the species responsible was identified. It is also likely that a white shark was responsible for one of the three additional fatal attacks that could not be attributed to a particular species. (2) Although the risk of shark attack to Western Australian swimmers cannot be accurately determined, there have been on average fewer than four shark attacks per year in the state over the past decade. The average rate of fatal attacks over the same period is 0.4 per year. The risk of shark attack is therefore extremely low. (3)-(4) I believe this project could provide information that, along with other strategies, may help to reduce the risk of shark attack. The shark monitoring network project aims to collect information on the occurrence and behaviour of white sharks off the metropolitan coast and, therefore, when and where there are elevated risks of attack. As a shark attack is currently a highly unpredictable event, such information could be used to improve the use of public safety resources such as the Westpac helicopter and response boats. If a tagged shark is detected by one of the communicating receivers that the government has recently provided funding to deploy, it may also be possible to notify surf lifesaving personnel or others before that shark encounters bathers. The Department of Fisheries will be examining whether this technology could be used for providing such alerts. (5) The Department of Fisheries has clearly stated the limitations of this research project. I refer to the department’s media statement issued last week that explains that “While this project will expand the strategies used in WA to deal with shark hazards, no monitoring method can replace the need for commonsense and vigilance by swimmers and other people who enjoy activities in the ocean.”
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Unfortunately, only Western Australian records are available, not Australian records. Of the 92 recorded shark attacks in Western Australian waters during the past 200 years, 27, or 30 per cent, are attributable to wobbegong sharks. However, all of these resulted in only minor injuries to the victims. The second most commonly identified species in these records is the white shark, which has been responsible for at least 17 attacks during the same period, or 18 per cent of all records. Six of these attacks proved fatal to the victims, making the white shark responsible for more than half of the 11 fatal attacks in which the species responsible was identified. It is also likely that a white shark was responsible for one of the three additional fatal attacks that could not be attributed to a particular species. (2) Although the risk of shark attack to Western Australian swimmers cannot be accurately determined, there have been on average fewer than four shark attacks per year in the state over the past decade. The average rate of fatal attacks over the same period is 0.4 per year. The risk of shark attack is therefore extremely low. (3)-(4) I believe this project could provide information that, along with other strategies, may help to reduce the risk of shark attack. The shark monitoring network project aims to collect information on the occurrence and behaviour of white sharks off the metropolitan coast and, therefore, when and where there are elevated risks of attack. As a shark attack is currently a highly unpredictable event, such information could be used to improve the use of public safety resources such as the Westpac helicopter and response boats. If a tagged shark is detected by one of the communicating receivers that the government has recently provided funding to deploy, it may also be possible to notify surf lifesaving personnel or others before that shark encounters bathers. The Department of Fisheries will be examining whether this technology could be used for providing such alerts. (5) The Department of Fisheries has clearly stated the limitations of this research project. I refer to the department’s media statement issued last week that explains that “While this project will expand the strategies used in WA to deal with shark hazards, no monitoring method can replace the need for commonsense and vigilance by swimmers and other people who enjoy activities in the ocean.”
(1) Unfortunately, only Western Australian records are available, not Australian records. Of the 92 recorded shark attacks in Western Australian waters during the past 200 years, 27, or 30 per cent, are attributable to wobbegong sharks. However, all of these resulted in only minor injuries to the victims. The second most commonly identified species in these records is the white shark, which has been responsible for at least 17 attacks during the same period, or 18 per cent of all records. Six of these attacks proved fatal to the victims, making the white shark responsible for more than half of the 11 fatal attacks in which the species responsible was identified. It is also likely that a white shark was responsible for one of the three additional fatal attacks that could not be attributed to a particular species. (2) Although the risk of shark attack to Western Australian swimmers cannot be accurately determined, there have been on average fewer than four shark attacks per year in the state over the past decade. The average rate of fatal attacks over the same period is 0.4 per year. The risk of shark attack is therefore extremely low. (3)-(4) I believe this project could provide information that, along with other strategies, may help to reduce the risk of shark attack. The shark monitoring network project aims to collect information on the occurrence and behaviour of white sharks off the metropolitan coast and, therefore, when and where there are elevated risks of attack. As a shark attack is currently a highly unpredictable event, such information could be used to improve the use of public safety resources such as the Westpac helicopter and response boats. If a tagged shark is detected by one of the communicating receivers that the government has recently provided funding to deploy, it may also be possible to notify surf lifesaving personnel or others before that shark encounters bathers. The Department of Fisheries will be examining whether this technology could be used for providing such alerts. (5) The Department of Fisheries has clearly stated the limitations of this research project. I refer to the department’s media statement issued last week that explains that “While this project will expand the strategies used in WA to deal with shark hazards, no monitoring method can replace the need for commonsense and vigilance by swimmers and other people who enjoy activities in the ocean.”
(2) Although the risk of shark attack to Western Australian swimmers cannot be accurately determined, there have been on average fewer than four shark attacks per year in the state over the past decade. The average rate of fatal attacks over the same period is 0.4 per year. The risk of shark attack is therefore extremely low. (3)-(4) I believe this project could provide information that, along with other strategies, may help to reduce the risk of shark attack. The shark monitoring network project aims to collect information on the occurrence and behaviour of white sharks off the metropolitan coast and, therefore, when and where there are elevated risks of attack. As a shark attack is currently a highly unpredictable event, such information could be used to improve the use of public safety resources such as the Westpac helicopter and response boats. If a tagged shark is detected by one of the communicating receivers that the government has recently provided funding to deploy, it may also be possible to notify surf lifesaving personnel or others before that shark encounters bathers. The Department of Fisheries will be examining whether this technology could be used for providing such alerts. (5) The Department of Fisheries has clearly stated the limitations of this research project. I refer to the department’s media statement issued last week that explains that “While this project will expand the strategies used in WA to deal with shark hazards, no monitoring method can replace the need for commonsense and vigilance by swimmers and other people who enjoy activities in the ocean.”
(3)-(4) I believe this project could provide information that, along with other strategies, may help to reduce the risk of shark attack. The shark monitoring network project aims to collect information on the occurrence and behaviour of white sharks off the metropolitan coast and, therefore, when and where there are elevated risks of attack. As a shark attack is currently a highly unpredictable event, such information could be used to improve the use of public safety resources such as the Westpac helicopter and response boats. If a tagged shark is detected by one of the communicating receivers that the government has recently provided funding to deploy, it may also be possible to notify surf lifesaving personnel or others before that shark encounters bathers. The Department of Fisheries will be examining whether this technology could be used for providing such alerts. (5) The Department of Fisheries has clearly stated the limitations of this research project. I refer to the department’s media statement issued last week that explains that “While this project will expand the strategies used in WA to deal with shark hazards, no monitoring method can replace the need for commonsense and vigilance by swimmers and other people who enjoy activities in the ocean.”
(5) The Department of Fisheries has clearly stated the limitations of this research project. I refer to the department’s media statement issued last week that explains that “While this project will expand the strategies used in WA to deal with shark hazards, no monitoring method can replace the need for commonsense and vigilance by swimmers and other people who enjoy activities in the ocean.”
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