❓ A parliamentary question on notice regarding the handling of shark carcasses and the treatment of sharks caught on drum lines, including concerns about disposal practices and the welfare of released sharks. The Minister's answers address these concerns, though some require further information.
AnsweredQoN 51Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
FISHERIES — ANIMAL CARCASS
51. Hon LYNN MacLAREN to the
Minister for Fisheries:
(1) Will the
minister release photographic evidence to prove that the animal under the
tarpaulin on the Fisheries vessel off Leighton Beach this morning was not a
dolphin?
(2) What was
the species of the animal, its level of maturity and gender, and its physical
state when retrieved, including a description of any injuries?
(3) Why was the animal covered?
(4) Why did the Fisheries vessel travel so far out to sea
before disposing of the carcass?
(5) What was
the minister's reaction following yesterday's broadcast video
of a tiger shark released from a Fisheries vessel sinking lifelessly towards
the bottom of the seabed near the drum line that hooked it?
(6) Having
seen photographic evidence of sharks severely wounded by a hook and fishers
cutting the shark around the mouth to remove the hook, will the minister
investigate whether sharks released alive are, indeed, dying soon after
release?
(7) Will the
minister instruct, or has he instructed, the fishers checking the drum lines to
cover up with a tarpaulin anything captured and speed away from nearby
witnesses?
51. Hon LYNN MacLAREN to the
Minister for Fisheries:
(1) Will the
minister release photographic evidence to prove that the animal under the
tarpaulin on the Fisheries vessel off Leighton Beach this morning was not a
dolphin?
(2) What was
the species of the animal, its level of maturity and gender, and its physical
state when retrieved, including a description of any injuries?
(3) Why was the animal covered?
(4) Why did the Fisheries vessel travel so far out to sea
before disposing of the carcass?
(5) What was
the minister's reaction following yesterday's broadcast video
of a tiger shark released from a Fisheries vessel sinking lifelessly towards
the bottom of the seabed near the drum line that hooked it?
(6) Having
seen photographic evidence of sharks severely wounded by a hook and fishers
cutting the shark around the mouth to remove the hook, will the minister
investigate whether sharks released alive are, indeed, dying soon after
release?
(7) Will the
minister instruct, or has he instructed, the fishers checking the drum lines to
cover up with a tarpaulin anything captured and speed away from nearby
witnesses?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for the question without
notice.
(1) I
certainly do not have the photographic evidence on me. It was a deceased
2.3-metre tiger shark at Leighton Beach, not a dolphin.
(2) If the
member wants that information, she will have to put the question on notice. I
do not carry that information around in my head. As to the shark's
physical state when retrieved, including a description of any injuries, it was
deceased.
(3) All deceased sharks get covered.
(4) If the
sharks are dead and they are let go in the area in which they were caught,
obviously sharks eat sharks, so they will attract sharks in an area where these
drum lines are put to protect people.
(5) I checked on
that this morning. I am told that the shark was very much alive and kicking and
well. It was less than three metres long and was released.
(6) Obviously, a
big hook is used. The best way to get that hook out is to reverse it and take
it back through. It is a hook with a very small eyelet on it, so it can be
pulled through. A small incision would be made to get that hook out.
(7) No, I have
not instructed the fishers to cover the sharks with a tarpaulin. However, when
they put the acoustic tags on, they put a cover over them to keep them as wet
as possible and they put a hose down their mouth to keep the seawater going
through them. If there is any reason that that shark is deteriorating or going
backwards before they put on that tag, they do not put on the tag but let the
shark go as soon as they possibly can.
Yes, the boat did speed away because
a different boat was being used. The other one is being serviced. This was the Houtman , which does 20 knots. It is a
very sleek boat; it is normally up around Geraldton. It is a very nice craft.
The only reason it sped away is that it is a boat of greater speed and does a
greater turn of knots.
notice.
(1) I
certainly do not have the photographic evidence on me. It was a deceased
2.3-metre tiger shark at Leighton Beach, not a dolphin.
(2) If the
member wants that information, she will have to put the question on notice. I
do not carry that information around in my head. As to the shark's
physical state when retrieved, including a description of any injuries, it was
deceased.
(3) All deceased sharks get covered.
(4) If the
sharks are dead and they are let go in the area in which they were caught,
obviously sharks eat sharks, so they will attract sharks in an area where these
drum lines are put to protect people.
(5) I checked on
that this morning. I am told that the shark was very much alive and kicking and
well. It was less than three metres long and was released.
(6) Obviously, a
big hook is used. The best way to get that hook out is to reverse it and take
it back through. It is a hook with a very small eyelet on it, so it can be
pulled through. A small incision would be made to get that hook out.
(7) No, I have
not instructed the fishers to cover the sharks with a tarpaulin. However, when
they put the acoustic tags on, they put a cover over them to keep them as wet
as possible and they put a hose down their mouth to keep the seawater going
through them. If there is any reason that that shark is deteriorating or going
backwards before they put on that tag, they do not put on the tag but let the
shark go as soon as they possibly can.
Yes, the boat did speed away because
a different boat was being used. The other one is being serviced. This was the Houtman , which does 20 knots. It is a
very sleek boat; it is normally up around Geraldton. It is a very nice craft.
The only reason it sped away is that it is a boat of greater speed and does a
greater turn of knots.
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