❓ Hon Lynn MacLaren questions the Minister for Fisheries regarding the deployment of drum lines following a shark incident at Wylie Bay, Esperance, focusing on federal exemptions, decision-making, and the rationale behind the duration of deployment. The Minister provides answers clarifying the process and justification.
AnsweredQoN 1331Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
FISHERIES — SHARK INCIDENT — WYLIE BAY
1331. Hon
LYNN MacLAREN to the
Minister for Fisheries:
I refer to question without notice 2172 asked
on 23 October 2014.
(1) Did the WA government receive an
exemption from the federal Minister for the Environment to deploy drum lines at
Wylie Bay near Esperance before the first drum line was deployed at 12.18 pm?
(2) Who in the WA government made the final
decision to deploy the drum lines?
(3) Given the exemption granted by the
federal environment minister refers to only one shark posing a threat after the
incident, why were drum lines left in the water another three hours after the
first white shark was killed?
(4) Was tagged shark WA017 the first shark
recovered dead on the drum lines on 2 October 2014?
(5) Does the government intend to deploy drum
lines in the event a large white shark with a transmitting tag is detected by
an early warning receiver off a popular beach?
1331. Hon
LYNN MacLAREN to the
Minister for Fisheries:
I refer to question without notice 2172 asked
on 23 October 2014.
(1) Did the WA government receive an
exemption from the federal Minister for the Environment to deploy drum lines at
Wylie Bay near Esperance before the first drum line was deployed at 12.18 pm?
(2) Who in the WA government made the final
decision to deploy the drum lines?
(3) Given the exemption granted by the
federal environment minister refers to only one shark posing a threat after the
incident, why were drum lines left in the water another three hours after the
first white shark was killed?
(4) Was tagged shark WA017 the first shark
recovered dead on the drum lines on 2 October 2014?
(5) Does the government intend to deploy drum
lines in the event a large white shark with a transmitting tag is detected by
an early warning receiver off a popular beach?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
(1) The
Department of the Premier and Cabinet made contact with the office of the
federal environment minister to advise of the attack in Esperance, that a
formal exemption would be sought and that gear was to be deployed. I understand
that an exchange of correspondence occurred, with the exemption instrument being
received approximately 90 minutes after gear was deployed.
(2) The decision
to deploy the drum lines was made by the director general of the Department of
Fisheries, in consultation with the director general of the Department of the
Premier and Cabinet.
(3) The exemption
is not interpreted as applying to a single shark. The second set of gear
remained in the water, as the initial report from the surfer injured in the
incident at Esperance suggested that more than one shark was involved.
(4) Yes.
(5) The
government will deploy drum lines when it is considered that the presence of a
shark poses a serious threat to public safety. It is unlikely that a single
detection of a white shark off a popular beach would be considered a serious
threat.
some notice of the question.
(1) The
Department of the Premier and Cabinet made contact with the office of the
federal environment minister to advise of the attack in Esperance, that a
formal exemption would be sought and that gear was to be deployed. I understand
that an exchange of correspondence occurred, with the exemption instrument being
received approximately 90 minutes after gear was deployed.
(2) The decision
to deploy the drum lines was made by the director general of the Department of
Fisheries, in consultation with the director general of the Department of the
Premier and Cabinet.
(3) The exemption
is not interpreted as applying to a single shark. The second set of gear
remained in the water, as the initial report from the surfer injured in the
incident at Esperance suggested that more than one shark was involved.
(4) Yes.
(5) The
government will deploy drum lines when it is considered that the presence of a
shark poses a serious threat to public safety. It is unlikely that a single
detection of a white shark off a popular beach would be considered a serious
threat.
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