❓ A WA parliamentary question seeks details on shark monitoring funding, upgrades, research, and geographical coverage, with the Minister providing detailed responses on the network's operations, research partnerships, and public education efforts.
AnsweredQoN 456Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer the 2025-26 State Budget Paper No. 2, Volume 1, page 237, and the line items under Division 15: Primary Industries and Regional Development, and I ask: (a) What does the funding for the Shark Monitoring Network refer to; (b) What do the upgrades for the “Shark Notification and Response System Upgrade” refer to; (c) What areas of the state do shark monitoring; (d) What other areas of the state are earmarked for shark monitoring; (e) Does this funding include educational resources for the public, tourist operators, and fishers; (f) What research is being conducted on shark numbers; (g) What research is being done on shark behaviour; (h) How does research, if any, on shark's species inform monitoring programs; and (i) Are there plans to extend shark monitoring in tourist hotspots beyond the current southwest summer season?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
16 September 2025
Responded by
Minister representing the Minister for Fisheries
Response time
7 days
(a) The Shark Monitoring Network is a network of acoustic receivers, which provide near real-time alerts of tagged shark detections at key locations. Shark monitoring receivers are located throughout the Perth metropolitan area, Geographe Bay, Yallingup, Gracetown, Albany and Esperance. The funding provides for shark tagging operations, the deployment of new receivers and the repair and maintenance of the receiver network.
(b) The replacement of components that make up the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development’s (DPIRD) Shark Notification and Response System including a new fit-for-purpose, cloud-based system which will ensure more reliable and up-to-date information on shark activity and vital public safety warnings.
(c) Reported shark sightings are received from all around WA and, along with tagged shark detections, are digitally mapped in the SharkSmart WA app and website shark activity map.
(d) Monitoring of shark hazards through reported shark sightings occurs statewide. DPIRD regularly reviews the location of shark monitoring network receivers.
(e) Educational resources on the WA Government’s shark hazard mitigation strategy are available on the SharkSmart WA app and website, and through DPIRD’s engagement at community events such as surfing competitions and boat shows, and through presentations to interest groups and broadcast media.
(f) DPIRD is a partner in a national project being led by the CSIRO with other partners including the NSW Department of Primary Industries, Flinders University and the South Australian Research and Development Institute. The project will provide an update on the status and population structure of white sharks in Australian waters.
(g) DPIRD’s shark monitoring program provides information on the broad-scale movement of white sharks in coastal waters. The program was expanded in March 2023 to better understand the movement patterns of bull sharks throughout Western Australian waters. DPIRD is currently undertaking a review of the bull shark tagging program and the data collected to determine next steps.
(h) Science and research form a key part of the WA Government's Shark Hazard Mitigation Strategy. Research has provided an improved understanding of shark movements and behaviour in Western Australian waters.
(i) Monitoring of shark hazards through the Shark Monitoring Network and the Shark Notification System occurs 365 days a year.
(b) The replacement of components that make up the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development’s (DPIRD) Shark Notification and Response System including a new fit-for-purpose, cloud-based system which will ensure more reliable and up-to-date information on shark activity and vital public safety warnings.
(c) Reported shark sightings are received from all around WA and, along with tagged shark detections, are digitally mapped in the SharkSmart WA app and website shark activity map.
(d) Monitoring of shark hazards through reported shark sightings occurs statewide. DPIRD regularly reviews the location of shark monitoring network receivers.
(e) Educational resources on the WA Government’s shark hazard mitigation strategy are available on the SharkSmart WA app and website, and through DPIRD’s engagement at community events such as surfing competitions and boat shows, and through presentations to interest groups and broadcast media.
(f) DPIRD is a partner in a national project being led by the CSIRO with other partners including the NSW Department of Primary Industries, Flinders University and the South Australian Research and Development Institute. The project will provide an update on the status and population structure of white sharks in Australian waters.
(g) DPIRD’s shark monitoring program provides information on the broad-scale movement of white sharks in coastal waters. The program was expanded in March 2023 to better understand the movement patterns of bull sharks throughout Western Australian waters. DPIRD is currently undertaking a review of the bull shark tagging program and the data collected to determine next steps.
(h) Science and research form a key part of the WA Government's Shark Hazard Mitigation Strategy. Research has provided an improved understanding of shark movements and behaviour in Western Australian waters.
(i) Monitoring of shark hazards through the Shark Monitoring Network and the Shark Notification System occurs 365 days a year.
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