‘500 dolphins caught in nets’

WA scientists say about 500 dolphins have been caught in the Pilbara trawl fishery in the past 10 years. Picture: File image Source: Supplied

ABOUT 500 dolphins have been caught in the Pilbara trawl fishery in the past 10 years, West Australian scientists say.

Murdoch University PhD candidate Simon Allen and colleagues from the Cetacean Research Unit have made the claims based on independent observer data, which shows methods to reduce dolphin bycatch are not working.

"Independent observers reported bycatch rates of about 50 dolphins per year, which is double the number reported by the skippers of these vessels," Mr Allen said.

Under-reporting was not unusual around the world, especially where marine mammal capture was illegal, he said.

"This doesn't necessarily mean that skippers are deliberately under-reporting," Mr Allen said.

"Fishers are concentrating on the job at hand and may not see a dead dolphin fall out of the net on winch up."

A report by the WA Fisheries Department detailed similar findings, but instead suggested self-reporting mechanisms in place were accurate and the impact posed negligible risk, Mr Allen said.

But researchers said modified bycatch reduction devices with top-opening escape hatches could be more effective.

The scientists have also called for a reinstatement of independent observers and in-net video collection to accurately measure bycatch.

"The next step is to calculate the acceptable levels of human-caused dolphin mortality, which requires an estimate of the dolphin population size in the region," Mr Allen said.

"If the ongoing bycatch exceeds that threshold, switching to alternative, less destructive fishing methods, like trap or line fishing, should be considered."

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Sharks never kept diver from water: girlfriend

The body of a diver reported missing south of Perth has been recovered and has signs of a shark attack.

THE girlfriend of diver Mick McGregor – who was possibly killed by a shark – says he was an ocean lover who was never scared of sharks.

Friends have described the 38-year-old as a joker who loved the water.

Mr McGregor, of Erskine, a suburb of Mandurah, went missing while scuba diving with friends about 3km off the Dawesville Cut on Saturday.

His body was recovered by police divers yesterday, four days after he vanished.

A police spokeswoman said initial examinations showed what appeared to be shark bites, and police are investigating whether that could have been the cause of death.

However, none of the four friends he was diving with saw a shark attack.

Mr McGregor's girlfriend Elizabeth Cambage is devastated, but relieved his body had been found.

"He loved being under the water and maybe he would have been chasing those crayfish around and not realised he's running out of time," she told Ten News.

Mick McGregor, whose remains were found with possible shark bites four days after he went missing on a dive near Mandurah. Picture: Facebook Source: Supplied

She said the possibility of encountering sharks never stopped Mr McGregor from going into the water. "If there was a shark in the water then he'd be in it too," she said.

One of his friends who was on the fateful diving trip, Shane Wylie, said waiting for Mr McGregor to resurface was the "worst feeling I've ever felt."

"It was a routine dive, we were doing what we loved and then something's gone wrong," he said.

Mr Wylie described Mr McGregor as the "best person" he had ever met.

"Basically everyone whose ever met him says how nice he is," he said.

"We just waited and watched, hoping to see him ... the ocean was where he loved to be and where he'll be forever."

Mick McGregor, whose body was found yesterday after he went missing while diving with friends on Saturday. Picture: Facebook Source: Supplied

Friends and family of Mr McGregor have taken to social media to express their shock and grief.

"You were the brother I never had," Secret Harbor man Shane Wylie said.

"There will never be anyone to replace who you were and I will never forget the times we've had.

"I'd give everything I've ever had for one more trip on the boat or for one more lame ass joke."

Brookton woman Gemma Hutch posted: "Love you forever mate xx there will never be anyone like you again".

Police divers today finished searching the area where Mr McGregor's body was recovered.

The search team returned to the area off the Dawesville Channel today to look for Mr McGregor's dive gear and clues about what happened to him.

Police are preparing a report for the State Coroner.

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Japan ends Antarctic whaling hunt

Australia celebrates while Japan expresses disappointment over International Court of Justice order to halt whaling. Paul Chapman reports.

A delicacy in Japan ... Packs of whale meat hang at a whale meat specialty store at Tokyo's Ameyoko shopping district. Source: AP

JAPAN says it is cancelling its annual Antarctic whaling hunt for the first time in more than a quarter of a century in line with a UN court ruling.

A "deeply disappointed" Tokyo earlier this week said it would honour Tuesday's judgment by the United Nations' Hague-based International Court of Justice (ICJ) that the program was a commercial activity disguised as science. Tokyo, however, did not exclude the possibility of future whaling programs.

AUSTRALIA WINS JAPANESE WHALING CASE IN THE HAGUE

JAPANESE LOSE TASTE FOR WHALE MEAT AS AUSTRALIA WINS CASE

Antarctic whaling cancelled ... Three dead mink whales lie on the deck of the Japanese whaling vessel Nisshin Maru, in the Southern Ocean. Source: AP

Today, officials said the next Antarctic hunt, which would have started in late 2014, had been scrapped, just weeks after the most recent one finished.

"We have decided to cancel research whaling (in the Antarctic) for the fiscal year starting in April because of the recent ruling," a fisheries agency official said.

But he added that "we plan to go ahead with research whaling in other areas as scheduled", including the northern Pacific. Japan also has a coastal whaling program that is not covered by a commercial whaling ban.

Australia, backed by New Zealand, hauled Japan before the ICJ in 2010 in a bid to end the annual Southern Ocean hunt.

WILL JAPAN RESUME ANTARTIC WHALING? COMMENT BELOW

Victorious ... (From left) Members of the Australian delegation, Justin Gleeson, Bill Campbell and Philippe Sands before the verdict in the case against Japanese whaling at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague. Source: AFP

Tokyo has used a legal loophole in the 1986 ban on commercial whaling that allowed it to continue slaughtering the mammals, ostensibly so it could gather scientific data.

However, it has never made a secret of the fact that the whale meat from these hunts can end up on dining tables.

Public consumption of whale meat in Japan has steadily and significantly fallen in recent years, and there is little support for whaling itself.

But aggressive anti-whaling campaigns hardened sentiment among the Japanese public, who came to see the issue as an attack on differing cultural values.

"I think everyone knew all along that research was a fig leaf to disguise commercial whaling," said Jeffrey Kingston, an Asian studies professor at Temple University in Tokyo.

"But the Japanese government erred in thinking that this loophole ... provided a legal basis for continued whaling as long as it asserted that it was for research. It did not anticipate that the research argument would be exposed as a sham." Japan had argued that its JARPA II research program was aimed at studying the viability of whale hunting, but the ICJ found it had failed to examine ways of doing the research without killing whales, or at least while killing fewer of them.

"Whale meat is an important source of food, and the government's position to use it based on scientific facts has not changed," Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi told a press conference on Tuesday in response to the judgment.

Cancelled Antarctic whaling ... Japanese whaling fleet's harpoon vessel Yushin Maru No. 2 with a minke whale in the Southern Ocean. Source: AFP

Yesterday, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said his government would abide by the court ruling, but added that the ruling was "a pity and I am deeply disappointed".

Some legal experts have suggested Japan might simply redesign its whaling program to skirt the ICJ ruling, but Australia and New Zealand are expected to keep up the diplomatic pressure to ensure Tokyo abides by the spirit of the pronouncement.

However, Shohei Yonemoto, visiting professor on global environment and bioethics at the University of Tokyo, said the ruling would provide Tokyo with a convenient way of getting out of a money-losing and controversial business.

"Japan should not miss this opportunity to use the ruling as an excuse to fully review its whaling program without losing its face," he said.

Hisayoshi Mitsuda, professor of environmental sociology at Bukkyo University in Kyoto, added: "Financially, whaling doesn't pay — it's a decaying industry." Three countries — Japan, Norway and Iceland — use objections or exceptions to continue whaling, a practice observers say claims more than 1000 of the marine mammals, some endangered, each year. But Japan is the only country to conduct whaling under a scientific permits category.

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Skype sex victim Kate discharged

Skype sex scandal victim 'Kate' explains the torment she received following the incident, which she is now suing the Defence Force over. Courtesy ABC.

Sought discharge from Defence ... RAAF cadet "Kate", the victim of a Defence Skype sex scandal, outside ACT Supreme Court. Source: News Limited

KATE, the RAAF cadet at the centre of the Australian Defence Force Academy "skype scandal", has left the defence force.

A Department of Defence spokesperson has confirmed that Officer Cadet "Kate" was no longer a member of the Australian Defence Force.

For privacy reasons no further details were provided.

However it's understood she left this week after seeking a discharge on medical grounds.

SKYPE SCANDAL VICTIM 'KATE' LASHES OUT AT DEFENCE

SKYPE SCANDAL VICTIM 'KATE' SUES DEFENCE FORCE

In March 2011, Kate — not her real name — was 18 and embarking on a career in the defence force after being accepted to ADFA. But then she agreed to sex with a fellow cadet Daniel McDonald in his room on the ADFA campus.

Unknown to her, he filmed their encounter on his computer webcam and streamed the vision live to other cadets viewing in a nearby room.

Appalled at the betrayal, slow progress in the defence investigation and a lack of support, Kate went to the media, with her story broadcast on Network Ten on April 5, 2011.

CADETS DANIEL MCDONALD AND DYLAN DEBLAQUIERE SENTENCED

FIVE ADFA CADETS WHO WATCHED SKYPE SEX EXPELLED

Handed suspended sentences ... RAAF cadets Dylan Deblaquiere (beige tie) and Daniel McDonald (blue tie) were the chief offenders in the Skype sex scandal. Source: News Limited

Community outrage prompted defence to embark on a range of reforms.

That culminated in March 2012 with the launch of Pathway to Change, a five-year strategy for cultural change.

As the scandal unfolded, a large number of serving and former defence personnel came forward to recount their own experiences of sexual abuse, harassment and bullying.

The Defence Abuse Response task force is now examining many of those allegations.

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Heartbreak over horror double fatal

Peter Liebeck who died with a friend in a car crash in Hilton. Picture: Facebook Source: Supplied

THE grieving father of one of two men who died in a horror crash overnight has urged people to "make the most of every minute" with their loved ones.

Geoff Liebeck's 20-year-old son Peter Liebeck died two blocks from home when a car he was travelling in with three friends crashed with a ute in the southern suburb of Hilton about 2am.

Mr Liebeck, who was in the back seat, died at the scene, while his friend Benny Brown, who was sitting next to him, died at Fremantle Hospital a short time later.

The four men were travelling in a silver Mazda sedan when it crashed with a white Ford Falcon ute at the intersection of South Street and Carrington Road.

Two men are dead and three others injured after a horrific 2am crash in Hilton.

The 43-year-old man who was driving the ute, and two male passengers of the sedan, have been taken to Fremantle Hospital with serious injuries.

"Make the most of every minute because you never know when there'll be a knock on the door. Nobody expects it but let me tell you it's real when it knocks," Geoff Liebeck told Seven News tonight.
Family and friends visited the crash site today to pay their respects. It was reported the crash was one of the worst some police officers had been to.

Mr Liebeck's cousin Grace wept as she pleaded with people to use their common sense on the roads. "There's so many families devastated today," she said.

Police are seeking witnesses who may have seen either car before the crash.

An 86-year-old man on a gopher is in a critical condition after he was hit by a car in Willetton today. Picture: Twitter/Ten News Source: Supplied

ELDERLY MAN ON GOPHER HIT BY CAR

An 86-year-old man who was hit by a car while trying to cross the street on his gopher in Willetton this morning is in a critical condition in Fremantle Hospital.

The man was hit by a silver Hyundai Getz while crossing Acanthus Road about 11.40am.

It is the third serious crash today, after the death of three men in two separate crashes this morning.

THIRD DEATH NEAR GERALDTON

Another man has died after being thrown from his car near Geraldton this morning.

Police say the 70-year-old man's car rolled on Geraldton-Mount Magnet Road between 8.40am and 8.45am, about 5km west of Mullewa.

No other vehicles are believed to be involved in the crash.

He became the state's 45th road victim this year.

Police are calling for witnesses to the crash or people who saw the man's white station wagon bearing Geraldton number plates before the crash to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

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Lost MH370 ‘a blessing in disguise’

There is nothing 'abnormal' in the communications transcript of flight MH370 according to authorities.

Public face ... Malaysia's Defense Minister and acting Transport Minister Hishammuddin Hussein has been at the forefront of the nation's response to the missing plane. Source: AP

THE public face of the missing Malaysia Airlines flight tragedy says the event is a "blessing in disguise".

Malaysia's Defence and acting Transport Minister Hishammuddin Hussein shocked followers on Twitter when he agreed with someone who suggested there was bright side to the disaster.

Kuala Lumpur-based journalist Ismail Amsyar tweeted: "#MH370 is a blessing in disguise for all of us. I understand now the beauty of unity, the sweetness of having each other. @HishammuddinH2O"

Six minutes later Hishammuddin replied: "Right u are:)"

— Hishammuddin Hussein (@HishammuddinH2O) April 2, 2014

Followers were quick to question the appropriateness of the tweet.

Alan Cook tweeted: "@HishammuddinH2O @IsmailAmsyar hmmmm not sure the families will be happy to hear that translate it so they can read your statment #mh370".

Hj Azman HMZ also quickly responded: "@HishammuddinH2O @IsmailAmsyarSorry. I beg to differ with max consideratn & respect to the families. MH370 can't be a blessing!".

Whether or not it was a blessing, police have now opened a criminal investigation into the disappearance of the plane.

Not feeling blessed ... Chinese relatives of passengers on the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 wait for new information at a hotel in Beijing. Source: AFP

In response Ismail Amsyar, who works for The Malaysian National News Agency or BERNAMA, tweeted: "but u shud see how united we are defending our country from being accused, how strong the local media dispelling -ve reports".

The journalist, who spent two years at Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, then back-pedalled on his original tweet.

"@hjazman got what u mean..but m not being insensitive or anything. I look at them as my family and i want them back. My apology," he tweeted.

Minutes later, he followed up with this: "@hjazman I've been covering this issue since day 1. they are all my family, my Malaysian family. if they hurt, so do i."

The investigation was classified as a criminal investigation, according to reports in The Wall Street Journal citing Malaysia's police chief.

As the search for the missing Boeing 777-200ER continues into its 25th day, a series of updates linked to The Wall Street Journal's Twitter feed quoted police chief Inspector General Khalid Abu Bakar as saying police had taken more than 170 statements for the ongoing probe, and would interview more people.

"Investigations may go on and on and on. We have to clear every little thing,'' Abu Bakar told reporters in Kuala Lumpur.

"At the end of the investigations, we may not even know the real cause. We may not even know the reason for this incident."

As the so-far fruitless search for the missing plane continues, the aviation industry has announced it will create a taskforce to make recommendations for continuously tracking commercial airliners because "we cannot let another aircraft simply vanish''.

Nine planes headed out to the search zone about 1,500km west of Perth on Wednesday and another nine ships continue to scour the area, with authorities warning the already 25-day hunt for the Malaysia Airlines plane "could drag on for a long time".

Seeking the truth ... a ground crew member from the Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force signals to a P3 Orion pilot for engine startup at RAAF base Pearce. Source: Getty Images

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Which WA holiday is Aussie No.1?

Cruising the Kimberley is the No.1 holiday in Australia, according to the Australian Travel list. Picture: True North Source: Supplied

WHERE'S your next holiday?

If you're following the experts' recommendations, the answer will likely be Western Australia.

Australian Traveller has listed Australia's 100 Greatest Holidays Of All Time in a special collectors' edition of the magazine.

Have the experts got it right? Tell us your ideal Aussie holiday.

The special edition of Australian Traveller magazine, out Wednesday. Source: Supplied

The list is the result of more 12,000 nominations, a panel of 20 travel experts and hundreds of hours of analysis.

The No.1 spot was taken out by relatively little-known WA experience, cruising the Kimberley.

A total of 16 WA travel experiences made the list, making it the most popular state/territory for Australia's best holidays.

Traditional holiday favourite Queensland came a close second with 15 holidays on the list.

Tasmania was the other big winner, with Australia's most highly rated luxury stay, best walking holidays and Australia's best road trip.

Tassie's little-known drive The East Coast Escape beat iconic road trips such as The Great Ocean Road (No.8) and the Big Lap (No.3) to take the No.2 position.

"If you've ever done it, you'd know why," Australian Traveller magazine editor Georgia Rickard said.

"It's absolutely breathtaking."

And, she said, it was a pleasant surprise to see an affordable holiday option come in at No.2.

"The best thing about the East Coast Escape road trip is that the luxury is in the environment," she said.

"Hobart, Maria Island, The Hazards, Wineglass Bay, Bay of Fires… it's one long, continuous reel of six-star surroundings. And you can absolutely do it without blowing the budget, there's plenty of affordable accommodation along the way."

Tasmania's luxury lodge Saffire Freycinet also caused upset by coming in at No.5, nabbing the hotly-contested title of best luxury lodge from perennial favourite qualia at Hamilton Island (No.10).

The list is reflective of Australia's changing travel palate, Rickard said.

"As a nation, we're becoming much more discerning about what we want from our holidays," she says.

"It's not enough to plonk yourself by a pool anymore – we want authentic experiences, unique destinations, and trips that enrich our lives in some way.

"A bit of brag factor doesn't hurt, either."

Another surprise – Australia's best island break is found in NSW, at Lord Howe Island (No.7).

Top 10 best holidays in Australia

1. Adventure cruise in the Kimberley, Western Australia

Luxury ship True North is one option for exploring the Kimberley in WA. Picture: True North Source: Supplied

2. Road trip the East Coast, Tasmania

A road trip around Tasmania's East Coast takes in spectacular sights such as the Bay of Fires. Picture: Tasmanian Walking Company Source: Supplied

3. The Big Lap

An epic road trip around Australia is a dream of many - and comes in at No.3 on the best Aussie holidays. Source: Supplied

4. Explore Kakadu, Northern Territory

Explore the natural attractions of Kakadu National Park in the Northern Territory. Source: Supplied

5. Stay at luxe lodge Saffire Freycinet, Tasmania

Saffire Freycinet is Australia's most sought-after luxury lodge stay, according to the Australian Traveller list. Source: Supplied

6. Foodie break in Margaret River region, Western Australia

Amberley Estate winery in WA's gourmet Margaret River region. Picture: Tourism Western Australia Source: Supplied

7. Beach holiday on Lord Howe Island, New South Wales

Lord Howe Island offers spectacular scenery and fantastic walks. Source: Supplied

8. Road trip the Great Ocean Road, Victoria

The Twelve Apostles on the Great Ocean Road - Victoria's top entry on the list of great Aussie holidays. Source: Supplied

9. Gourmet escape in Barossa, South Australia

Maggie Beer's Farm Shop in the Barossa Valley. Picture: South Australian Tourism Source: Supplied

10. Stay at luxe lodge qualia, Queensland

At No.10 Queensland entry qualia at Hamilton Island - one of Australia's most prominent luxury resorts - just slipped in to the top 10 list. Source: Supplied

For the full list of 100 holidays, see the special edition of Australian Traveller, out on Wednesday.

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Mighty Martin makes NBL history

The Adelaide 36ers are into the NBL Grand Final after a dominant performance against the Melbourne Tigers.

WILDCATS skipper Damian Martin claimed an unprecedented fourth straight Defensive Player of the Year award, but teammate James Ennis missed out on MVP honours at the NBL's awards night.

Ennis was widely tipped to claim the league's top individual prize after dominating in the first half of the season to help set up Perth's league-best 21-7 regular season record.

But Wollongong guard Rotnei Clarke stormed home in the second half of the campaign to claim the prize, narrowly edging out Melbourne's Chris Goulding and consigning Ennis to third place.

WOLLONGONG, AUSTRALIA — MARCH 30: James Ennis of the Wildcats controls the ball during game two of the NBL Finals Series between the Wollongong Hawks and the Perth Wildcats at WIN Entertainment Centre on March 30, 2014 in Wollongong, Australia. (Photo by Brett Hemmings/Getty Images) Source: Getty Images

Clarke averaged 21.1 points per game (fourth in the league), while knocking down an equal league-best 95 three-pointers to lead the Hawks into the playoffs.

Ennis can consider himself unlucky after averaging 21.5 points and 7.1 rebounds per game, ranking in the league's top four in both categories.

Martin was the standout defensive performer, finishing with 68 steals to lead the next best — teammate Ennis — by 27.

PERTH, AUSTRALIA — MARCH 28: Rhys Martin of the Hawks goes to the basket against Damian Martin (left) and Shawn Redhage of the Wildcats during game one of the NBL Semi Final series between the Perth Wildcats and the Wollongong Hawks at Perth Arena on March 28, 2014 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images) Source: Getty Images

He became the first player in league history to win the award in four straight seasons.

Cats reserve centre Tom Jervis secured the Rookie of the Year prize following an outstanding debut season, where he filled in admirably for the injury-affected Matt Knight across more than half of the campaign.

Hawks mentor Gordie McLeod was named Coach of the Year after guiding his side into the postseason, while Kevin Tiggs snared Sixth Man of the year honours.

Melbourne point guard Nate Tomlinson was named the league's Most Improved Player.

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Diver remains found ‘with shark bites’

Water Police have found human remains, believed to be that of a man who went missing from a diving trip at the weekend. Source: News Limited

A DIVER missing for four days in waters near Mandurah may have been a shark attack victim after human remains were found with bites late today.

The 38-year-old man went missing on Saturday after failing to resurface during a dive 5km offshore from the Dawesville Cut just south of Mandurah.

He had been on a diving trip with four friends, who contacted police at about 1.30pm when he failed to return to the boat.

A WA Police spokeswoman said following an extensive air, land and sea search, water police found human remains believed to be of the missing man close to the dive site.

"Initial investigations indicates the male may have received shark bites," she said.

The spokeswoman said the man's friends did not witness any attack and the cause of death was unclear at this stage.

Further investigations and consultation with relevant experts will be undertaken, she said.

The man was reportedly a local Peel man who knew the area well and was an experienced diver.

The matter is being investigated by the coronial investigation unit and a report will be prepared for the Coroner.

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Activists ‘bring shark back to life’

Amazing footage have been captured by conservationists who swam with an 2.4m tiger shark off Perth to bring it back from near death.

AMAZING pictures and video have been captured by conservationists who swam with an 2.4m tiger shark off Perth to bring it back from near death.

The shark was hooked on a WA Government drum line off Trigg Beach overnight and released by Fisheries officers about 7am.

But observers on three boats, including a Sea Shepherd vessel and an Animal Amnesty vessel, saw the animal floating just below the surface and begin to turn upside down, indicating it was close to death.

They swam with the injured shark for more than an hour and a half, helping it to re-oxygenate its vital organs and muscles.

Among those who swam with the shark, which was bleeding from hook wounds, was Ocean Ramsey, the Hawaiian who shot to fame after riding the dorsal fin of a massive great white shark.

Shark scientist Riley Elliott swims with a tiger shark off Perth as part of a one-and-a-half hour effort to revive it after it was hooked and dumped. Picture: Twitter/NoWASharkCull

The 28-year-old is in Perth to document WA's shark catch and kill program.

Animal Amnesty spokeswoman Amy-Lea Wilkins, who also helped revive the tiger shark, said: "Everyone was starting to think it was time to give up. Then it gave a kick, then a couple more big kicks and then it swam off. It was really classic.

"It wasn't particularly dangerous. We could see the shark was close to death and it was a matter of everyone taking turns – two people swimming with the shark and one spotter.

"We kept tickling it under the chin and moving it to help get the oxygen into its system. It was really beautiful to see it swim off."

Activists swim with a tiger shark, hooked by drum lines off Perth and dumped by Fisheries officers, for one-and-a-half hours to revive it. Picture: Twitter/NoWASharkCull

Andy Corbe, who was also among the rescue team, said the swimmers held the shark's pectoral fins as they swam with it just below the surface.

"It was pretty epic. Luckily we had about 15 people who took it turns to swim with the shark," he said.

"It's not dangerous. These guys are shark experts and the tiger sharks are incredibly tired by the time they get off the Fisheries boat because (the officers) don't oxygenate them properly."

Ms Ramsey was dubbed the "shark whisperer" after she was filmed holding onto the dorsal fin of a five metre great white shark to change perceptions of the apex predator.

Conservationists swim with and revive a hooked tiger shark today. Picture: Neil Henderson

The model, who with a film crew is following the Fisheries vessel patrolling the hooks off Perth beaches, said: "It's absolutely disturbing and disgusting. It's disrespectful to nature and even to the community because essentially they are luring sharks closer to shore."

She described how on Tuesday she watched as a 3.5 metre tiger shark was shot and dumped at sea and a one metre tiger shark was released "alive" despite appearing to be dead.

"It's a complete waste of life because of the ineffectiveness of the methods. The small sharks aren't surviving and the large ones are tortured for a long period of time before they are eventually put out of their misery," she said.

"The Fisheries guys just don't know how to handle the animals. They were unable to kill (the larger shark). They started dragging it out as if they had killed and then they realised they hadn't killed it so they had to stop and shoot it again.

A tiger shark was hooked and released by Fisheries officers off Perth today. Picture: Neil Henderson

"It's hard (to witness) for someone who works with sharks and gets to see them alive, to see how beautiful and misunderstood they are. I feel like this cull is just coming out of fear and is a knee-jerk reaction by politicians because they feel like they have to do something."

Ms Ramsey said a shark cull in her native Hawaii from 1959 to 1976 was found to be "completely ineffective" and WA's policy was not based on sound science.

The shark advocate, who spoke at an Alternatives to Shark Culling Forum in Perth on Sunday, said far more Australians died each year from drownings than shark attacks.

"To come here and see in our current day and age, with the scientific knowledge we have, a first-world country killing something so vitally important to our ecosystem is shocking and disturbing on so many levels. It's very hard to stomach," she said.

Ocean Ramsey swims with a great white shark. Picture: Juan Oliphant

New Zealand shark scientist Riley Elliott is also documenting WA's shark drum lines as part of a series for NZTV.

The University of Auckland PhD candidate said the State Government should fund other shark mitigation measures, such as expanding its tagging scheme.

"This entire policy to protect the beaches came about to save tourism because everyone feared the sharks," Mr Elliott said.

"What they've done is far more damaging to their image, and how people view Western Australia, than the six or seven shark attacks that there were."

Hawaiian shark conservationist Ocean Ramsey, who is in WA documenting the state's shark kill policy. Picture: Juan Oliphant

Ms Wilkins questioned how many other sharks had been released alive by Fisheries only to die later.

"It just goes to show how much effort is needed to revive a shark after it's been hooked on a drum line and not able to move or get oxygen through its gills," she said.

Earlier today, a string ray was caught and released off Leighton Beach at 6.30am. It is the first known by-catch since the program started on Australia Day.

Meanwhile, the Marine Response Unit, a group of anti-cull activists, said its HQ was raided by Fisheries and WA Police on Tuesday after allegations it had interfered with a drum line.

A shark is caught on drum lines off Perth yesterday. Picture: Water Inspired Juan Oliphant

The group said on its Facebook page that its boat had been confiscated, along with computers, mobile phones, cameras and other recording equipment.

Tiger, bull sharks and great whites over 3m are destroyed but those under the size limit are released under WA's catch-and-kill shark mitigation strategy.

A shark is caught on drum lines off Perth yesterday Picture: Water Inspired Juan Oliphant

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