❓ A WA parliamentary question probes the government's shark drum line program and rationale for killing sharks after attacks, questioning the scientific basis and effectiveness of the measures.
AnsweredQoN 1285Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
SHARK DRUM
LINE PROGRAM
1285. Hon LYNN MacLAREN to the
Leader of the House representing the Premier:
I refer to question without notice 2172, asked on 23 October
2014, and the Premier's comments in the media in recent weeks about
developing new measures for responding to shark hazards.
(1) Does the
government believe that a shark that has bitten a human once is more likely
than other sharks to bite humans again ?
(2) If yes to
(1), can the Premier please refer me to the specific research that supports
this view, or any other evidence the government relies on to form this view, as
it is not a view widely shared in the marine scientific community?
(3) If no to (1), why is the Premier
proposing measures to kill sharks following a shark bite incident?
(4) Does the
government acknowledge that setting drum lines in an area after a shark bite
has occurred provides no guarantee of capturing the same shark or sharks that
were responsible for the bite?
(5) Does the
government acknowledge that killing a shark or sharks at a location may create
a false perception amongst members of the public that the shark hazard in that
area has been reduced, when in fact the shark hazard at that location remains
the same?
LINE PROGRAM
1285. Hon LYNN MacLAREN to the
Leader of the House representing the Premier:
I refer to question without notice 2172, asked on 23 October
2014, and the Premier's comments in the media in recent weeks about
developing new measures for responding to shark hazards.
(1) Does the
government believe that a shark that has bitten a human once is more likely
than other sharks to bite humans again ?
(2) If yes to
(1), can the Premier please refer me to the specific research that supports
this view, or any other evidence the government relies on to form this view, as
it is not a view widely shared in the marine scientific community?
(3) If no to (1), why is the Premier
proposing measures to kill sharks following a shark bite incident?
(4) Does the
government acknowledge that setting drum lines in an area after a shark bite
has occurred provides no guarantee of capturing the same shark or sharks that
were responsible for the bite?
(5) Does the
government acknowledge that killing a shark or sharks at a location may create
a false perception amongst members of the public that the shark hazard in that
area has been reduced, when in fact the shark hazard at that location remains
the same?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for some notice of this
question.
(1) I —
Meaning the Premier —
am not aware of any scientific
evidence to support the proposition in this question.
(2)–(5)
The government has a responsibility to put in place measures to ensure public
safety, and in the case of shark attacks this amounts to a commitment of nearly
$26 million for aerial patrols of beaches in the metropolitan area and south
west; additional equipment to Surf Life Saving Western Australia; a tagging
program undertaken by the Department of Fisheries; research by the Department
of Fisheries into the behaviour of sharks; other research into shark behaviour
and deterrents; trialling of beach enclosures; a monitoring network for shark
movements; a website to provide information on sharks and their movements,
shown in real time; a trial drum line program in early 2014; and a policy to
deploy resources and gear to capture and destroy a shark or sharks involved in
an attack or posing a serious threat. An attack by a shark on an individual is
considered a threat to human safety and can also erode the public's
confidence in entering the water where the attack has occurred. Accordingly,
gear is deployed in such instances. The issue of mitigating against shark
attacks is a complex one, which is why the government has a suite of strategies
to address the issue. None, or all combined, will ever be a guarantee of no
further shark attacks and the government has never claimed this to be the case.
question.
(1) I —
Meaning the Premier —
am not aware of any scientific
evidence to support the proposition in this question.
(2)–(5)
The government has a responsibility to put in place measures to ensure public
safety, and in the case of shark attacks this amounts to a commitment of nearly
$26 million for aerial patrols of beaches in the metropolitan area and south
west; additional equipment to Surf Life Saving Western Australia; a tagging
program undertaken by the Department of Fisheries; research by the Department
of Fisheries into the behaviour of sharks; other research into shark behaviour
and deterrents; trialling of beach enclosures; a monitoring network for shark
movements; a website to provide information on sharks and their movements,
shown in real time; a trial drum line program in early 2014; and a policy to
deploy resources and gear to capture and destroy a shark or sharks involved in
an attack or posing a serious threat. An attack by a shark on an individual is
considered a threat to human safety and can also erode the public's
confidence in entering the water where the attack has occurred. Accordingly,
gear is deployed in such instances. The issue of mitigating against shark
attacks is a complex one, which is why the government has a suite of strategies
to address the issue. None, or all combined, will ever be a guarantee of no
further shark attacks and the government has never claimed this to be the case.
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