A large Great White caused Perth beaches to close.
THE Barnett Government has sought Commonwealth approval to continue its shark-kill program for a further three years as crews today attempt to catch a four-metre great white off Perth.
Shark drum lines would be deployed 1km off beaches in Perth and the South-West between November 15 and April 30, referral documents show.
After three years, the controversial shark attack mitigation measure would be subject to review.
The papers reveal new detail about how the shark-kill would continue next summer, including:
● Catch data will be published each month on the Department of Fisheries website;
● to avoid entanglement with migrating whales, there will be no drum lines between May and October;
A shark caught on drum lines off Perth last week. Picture: Water Inspired Juan Oliphant.
● dead or destroyed sharks, which are not protected under State or Federal law, used for re-baiting of drum lines;
● carcasses may be provided to WA shark researchers;
● minimum of 10 "observer trips" to ensure drum line contractors comply with requirements;
● an examination of great white shark numbers is due out in 2014 and;
● if Old Dunsborough beach enclosure trial is judged a success, more enclosures could be identified.
Thousands protested against the shark-kill at a rally at Cottesloe Beach earlier this year.
The report cities similar schemes in Brazil and South Africa where attempts are made to relocate dangerous sharks away from popular beaches.
The State Government's application to the Environment Department said it was "unlikely such an approach would be appropriate for dealing with captured sharks in WA".
"Transporting large sharks the significant distance necessary to get them away from WA coastal waters would be logistically impractical and could lead to the mortality of sharks in transit," the document states.
"Moreover, from bather safety and public liability perspectives, determining acceptable release locations especially for potentially dangerous white sharks would be extremely challenging and would reduce the amount of time available for contractors to check other hooks and release non-target sharks."
WA Labor leader Mark McGowan said he hopes the Federal Government knocks back the bid to extend the shark cull.
Fisheries officers haul a hooked tiger shark onto its vessel before releasing it. Picture: Neil Henderson
"The policy has failed and there are far more effective things that can be done to keep swimmers safe," he said.
The Greens' Lynn MacLaren added: "I am appalled that the State Government are even pursuing this. The drum lines have been proven to be ineffective and unpopular."
The shark-kill sees any bull, tiger or great white sharks bigger than three metres caught on baited drum lines shot dead and dumped further out at sea.
Between January 26 and March 16, 112 animals were caught on the hooks, including 105 tiger sharks.
Of these, 61 tiger sharks were released alive as they were under the target three-metre target size. However, the total mortality is likely to be higher "given the very large hook size", the document said.
As of mid-March, bycatch included mako shark (two), dusky whaler (one), spinner shark (one) and northwest blowfish (one). In recent weeks, conservationists observing the drum lines off Perth have also photographed sting rays hooked by the lines.
It is not surprising, the report continues, that no great whites have been caught in the initial three-month trial as "it was predicted that few would be captured at this time of the year".
It suggests the WA great white population was likely to be in the order of "at least a few to several thousand individuals".
"Collectively, the drum line program will operate for a short period of time in each of just three years," the referral document concludes.
"The footprint of the operation is extremely small compared to the distribution of the species most likely to be directly affected (white and tiger sharks) with relatively small numbers of individuals likely to be captured and even less killed compared to their total stock size.
"The program will therefore generate only negligible impacts on each of the affected species."
GREAT WHITE TRACKED OFF METRO BEACHES
The referral comes as a "rapid response" was earlier today launched in an attempt to capture a four-metre great white off Perth.
Fisheries said extra drum lines had been set up and could remain in place for up to an hour.
A spokesman said the great white would be destroyed if caught.
Anti-cull activists followed the great white's movements along the coast in a bid to usher it away from the drumlines.
Skipper Jodie Hayes said Fisheries had deployed drumlines at Scarborough, Floreat, City Beach, Swanbourne and Port Beach.
"We won't interfere with Fisheries in any way, we just want to shepherd it out to sea and away from the drumlines," she said.
Surf Life Saving WA said the shark was first seen 200m off Trigg Beach, before moving 400m off Scarborough Beach, prompting the City of Stirling to close both beaches.
Shortly after 12.30pm, Surf Lifesaving WA tweeted that those beaches had reopened and the shark had moved to Floreat Beach.
City Beach and Floreat beaches were closed, but have since been reopened.
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