❓ The Minister clarifies the data transmission process for shark alarm technology, including third-party involvement and international data routing, stating it's consistent with previous practices and NSW operations.
AnsweredQoN 4843Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the Minister's media statement on 19 February 2019, 'WA shark alarm technology to be used during SMART drumline trial' and I ask: (a) Is information from receivers transmitted to Spectur and/or another third party before or when the alarms are triggered: (i) If yes, is the third party based in Australia; and (ii) If no, where is the third party located?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
15 May 2019
Responded by
Minister for Fisheries
Response time
16 days
(a)(i) - (ii)
The process of transmission of information to third parties, including Spectur, is the same as it was under the former Liberal National government.
The comments in the media statement refer to the use of the Spectur alarm units to provide local, visual and audible alerts to the presence of a shark in the area.
The Spectur alarm is activated by officers of the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (Department) when they are notified of a detection from one of the three satellite linked VR4 receivers, a sighting of a shark reported to the Water Police or the activation of a SMART drumline. This infrastructure is made in Australia.
Detections from the VR4 receivers and SMART drumline activations are transmitted through the Iridium Satellite Network to Vemco in Canada in the case of the VR4 Receivers and through Marine Instruments in Spain in the case of the SMART drumlines. This process is consistent with SMART drumline operations undertaken in New South Wales. Both Vemco and Marine Instruments forward the VR4 detections and SMART drumline activations by means of automated emails to the Department’s Shark Monitoring Network. Sightings reported to the Water Police are all transmitted within Australia. Information on detections, sightings and SMART drumline activations is also sent to officers in other relevant State government agencies and of relevant local government authorities.
The process of transmission of information to third parties, including Spectur, is the same as it was under the former Liberal National government.
The comments in the media statement refer to the use of the Spectur alarm units to provide local, visual and audible alerts to the presence of a shark in the area.
The Spectur alarm is activated by officers of the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (Department) when they are notified of a detection from one of the three satellite linked VR4 receivers, a sighting of a shark reported to the Water Police or the activation of a SMART drumline. This infrastructure is made in Australia.
Detections from the VR4 receivers and SMART drumline activations are transmitted through the Iridium Satellite Network to Vemco in Canada in the case of the VR4 Receivers and through Marine Instruments in Spain in the case of the SMART drumlines. This process is consistent with SMART drumline operations undertaken in New South Wales. Both Vemco and Marine Instruments forward the VR4 detections and SMART drumline activations by means of automated emails to the Department’s Shark Monitoring Network. Sightings reported to the Water Police are all transmitted within Australia. Information on detections, sightings and SMART drumline activations is also sent to officers in other relevant State government agencies and of relevant local government authorities.
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