❓ Rick Mazza questions the Minister for Fisheries regarding a reported failure of a shark alarm at Huzzas surf break and other potential failings along the Margaret River coast. The Minister responds, clarifying the alarm is managed by the local shire and no failure was reported.
AnsweredQoN 219Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
SHARKS — HAZARD MITIGATION — ALARMS
219. Hon RICK MAZZA to the minister representing the
Minister for Fisheries:
I refer to the article in The
West Australian of 19 March titled ''Shark alert confusion'',
which said that a tagged shark triggered alarms at North Point and South Point
off Gracetown last Tuesday, but the alarm at Huzzas surf break, between the
points in Cowaramup Bay, failed to go off.
(1) Is the
government aware of the failed shark detection at Huzzas surf break; and, if
so, what was the cause of the failed detection?
(2) Is the
government aware of any other shark alarm detection failings along the Margaret
River coast; and, if so, can it provide the dates of these incidents?
(3) How regularly are the shark
alarms checked to ensure that they are working as intended?
219. Hon RICK MAZZA to the minister representing the
Minister for Fisheries:
I refer to the article in The
West Australian of 19 March titled ''Shark alert confusion'',
which said that a tagged shark triggered alarms at North Point and South Point
off Gracetown last Tuesday, but the alarm at Huzzas surf break, between the
points in Cowaramup Bay, failed to go off.
(1) Is the
government aware of the failed shark detection at Huzzas surf break; and, if
so, what was the cause of the failed detection?
(2) Is the
government aware of any other shark alarm detection failings along the Margaret
River coast; and, if so, can it provide the dates of these incidents?
(3) How regularly are the shark
alarms checked to ensure that they are working as intended?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question.
The Minister for Fisheries has provided the following information.
(1) The Spectur
alarm located at Huzzas surf break is operated by the Shire of Augusta–Margaret
River. The government is advised by the shire that there was no equipment
failure.
(2) No.
(3) The nine
Spectur alarm systems installed by the state government were all tested upon
installation. Since that time the relevant alarms have been used regularly to
inform swimmers and surfers of shark detections, sightings and
Shark-Management-Alert-in-Real-Time drum line activations.
The Minister for Fisheries has provided the following information.
(1) The Spectur
alarm located at Huzzas surf break is operated by the Shire of Augusta–Margaret
River. The government is advised by the shire that there was no equipment
failure.
(2) No.
(3) The nine
Spectur alarm systems installed by the state government were all tested upon
installation. Since that time the relevant alarms have been used regularly to
inform swimmers and surfers of shark detections, sightings and
Shark-Management-Alert-in-Real-Time drum line activations.
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