SHARKS — HAZARD
MITIGATION — DRUM LINE TRIAL
1157. Hon COLIN de GRUSSA to the minister representing the
Minister for Fisheries:
I refer to the recent shark attack
at Pyramids and an increase in shark activity around Esperance in recent
months.
(1) Will the
minister extend the Shark-Management-Alert-in-Real-Time drum line trial to
locations outside the south west region; and, if not, why not?
(2) Will the
minister move to introduce attention-grabbing technology, such as sirens or
lights, on shark receiver buoys; and, if not, why not?
(3) Will the minister bring forward the commencement
date of the SMART drum line trial; and, if not, why not?
Hon DARREN
WEST replied:
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
Hon Martin Aldridge
interjected.
Hon DARREN WEST: Sorry?
Hon Jacqui Boydell: Just keep
going.
Hon DARREN WEST: This is my
third question.
The PRESIDENT: Order, member!
Just answer the question, please.
Hon DARREN WEST: I thank the
honourable member for some notice of the question. On behalf of the Minister
for Regional Development representing the Minister for Fisheries, I provide the
following answer.
The
Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development scientists have
determined that the species of shark involved in the Pyramids shark bite
was a grey nurse shark. These sharks are generally docile and not considered a risk
to humans and are, therefore, not a target species for shark mitigation
programs anywhere in Australia.
(1) The
government's commitment is for a Shark-Management-Alert-in-Real-Time
drum line trial in Gracetown to assess the effectiveness of the technology in
reducing attacks. Gracetown has been chosen as the trial location because since
2004 there have been three fatalities from white shark attacks—more
than anywhere else in Western Australia. Once the trial is completed, the WA
Chief Scientist, Professor Peter Klinken, AC, will undertake an independent
assessment of the trial. The Chief Scientist's report will assist the
government in making a science-based assessment of the potential broader
application of SMART drum lines in WA.
(2) The Department of Primary Industries and Regional
Development has undertaken an investigation into a light and siren system
linked to the shark monitoring network. Following assessments of a number of
options, it was determined that retrofitting the receivers was not practical or
feasible from both a technical design and an operational effectiveness
viewpoint. The government is aware of a Shire of Augusta–Margaret River
trial for a land-based system and looks forward to the outcomes of that trial.
(3) We are
working to have the drum lines in the water as soon as possible, but not at the
expense of getting it right, as we saw happen under the previous government's
chaotic lethal drum line program. A public tender has been released to engage a
contractor to undertake the SMART drum line trial. Tenders close on 12 December
2018. The successful tenderer will be required to undertake training with the
department prior to commencing operations. The trial is on track to commence in
early 2019.