❓ Hon Lynn MacLaren questions the Premier regarding the shark drum line program, focusing on its effectiveness, impact on tiger shark populations, and potential unintended consequences. The Premier's response defends the program and cites risk assessments.
AnsweredQoN 428Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
SHARK DRUM
LINE PROGRAM
428. Hon LYNN MacLAREN to the
Leader of the House representing the Premier:
I refer to the proposal of the Department of the Premier and
Cabinet that has been referred to the Environmental Protection Authority for
drum lining between 15 November and 30 April each year for three years,
starting this November.
(1) Given
great white sharks are the only shark species confirmed to be responsible for
fatal attacks in Western Australian waters and not one great white shark has
been caught to date on drum lines deployed since January, please explain the
government's reasoning for proposing three more years of drum lining as
a shark hazard mitigation measure?
(2) As a
formal stock status assessment of tiger sharks, the main species to be captured
and killed on the drum lines to date, has not been conducted, will the
government conduct a formal stock assessment of tiger sharks as a matter of
urgency?
(3) Can the
Premier confirm that the Department of Fisheries' latest risk
assessment advice on drum lining, published on the EPA's website,
states that rates of mortality for undersized tiger sharks released from the
drum lines is likely to be higher than the figures for released sharks?
(4) What
evidence is there to prove that the act of releasing near-dying, undersized
sharks is not creating a shark hazard by attracting larger predators?
(5) What is
the estimated total cost of the proposed three-year drum lining program?
LINE PROGRAM
428. Hon LYNN MacLAREN to the
Leader of the House representing the Premier:
I refer to the proposal of the Department of the Premier and
Cabinet that has been referred to the Environmental Protection Authority for
drum lining between 15 November and 30 April each year for three years,
starting this November.
(1) Given
great white sharks are the only shark species confirmed to be responsible for
fatal attacks in Western Australian waters and not one great white shark has
been caught to date on drum lines deployed since January, please explain the
government's reasoning for proposing three more years of drum lining as
a shark hazard mitigation measure?
(2) As a
formal stock status assessment of tiger sharks, the main species to be captured
and killed on the drum lines to date, has not been conducted, will the
government conduct a formal stock assessment of tiger sharks as a matter of
urgency?
(3) Can the
Premier confirm that the Department of Fisheries' latest risk
assessment advice on drum lining, published on the EPA's website,
states that rates of mortality for undersized tiger sharks released from the
drum lines is likely to be higher than the figures for released sharks?
(4) What
evidence is there to prove that the act of releasing near-dying, undersized
sharks is not creating a shark hazard by attracting larger predators?
(5) What is
the estimated total cost of the proposed three-year drum lining program?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of the question and I
reply on behalf of the Leader of the House.
(1) In the
past 100 years there have been 20 fatal shark attacks in Western Australian
waters. Great white sharks have been attributed to 13 of these, with tiger
sharks believed to be responsible for five, one attributed to a bull shark and
one of unknown species. It has already been acknowledged that given the short
period of time the drum lines have been in place between January and April it
is not surprising that up to now a great white shark has not been caught. The
three-year proposal will allow a proper long-term assessment.
(2) Two risk
assessments have been undertaken by the Department of Fisheries, both of which
conclude the cumulative impacts on the tiger shark population to be negligible.
Further analysis will be undertaken following the completion of operations on
30 April 2014.
(3) The
Department of Fisheries' risk assessment concluded that, even assuming
total mortality of tiger sharks released, the proposed action poses only a
negligible risk to the WA population of tiger sharks. The risk assessment also
states that a long-term study is ongoing and will continue to provide data on
tiger sharks in the region.
(4) There does
not appear to be any evidence to suggest that the drum lining activities are
attracting larger predators.
(5) Costs
associated with the program will be examined following the cessation of
operations on 30 April 2014 and will form part of a broader review of the
strategy.
reply on behalf of the Leader of the House.
(1) In the
past 100 years there have been 20 fatal shark attacks in Western Australian
waters. Great white sharks have been attributed to 13 of these, with tiger
sharks believed to be responsible for five, one attributed to a bull shark and
one of unknown species. It has already been acknowledged that given the short
period of time the drum lines have been in place between January and April it
is not surprising that up to now a great white shark has not been caught. The
three-year proposal will allow a proper long-term assessment.
(2) Two risk
assessments have been undertaken by the Department of Fisheries, both of which
conclude the cumulative impacts on the tiger shark population to be negligible.
Further analysis will be undertaken following the completion of operations on
30 April 2014.
(3) The
Department of Fisheries' risk assessment concluded that, even assuming
total mortality of tiger sharks released, the proposed action poses only a
negligible risk to the WA population of tiger sharks. The risk assessment also
states that a long-term study is ongoing and will continue to provide data on
tiger sharks in the region.
(4) There does
not appear to be any evidence to suggest that the drum lining activities are
attracting larger predators.
(5) Costs
associated with the program will be examined following the cessation of
operations on 30 April 2014 and will form part of a broader review of the
strategy.
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