Shark de-bait reignites with fresh call for action

The age-old debate over how best to manage sharks in an effort to avoid attacks has been reignited by a spate of recent sightings in the South West. Several sharks have been reported in recent weeks at beaches around the Capes region, with one detected more than 15 times in the past nine days as it stalked Meelup Beach. Sharks have been reported at Margaret River, Kilcarnup and Ellensbrook beaches, as people continue to soak up the remaining days of school holidays in the South West. The most recent shark attack victim in the South West was Phil Mummert, who was pulled from the water after an encounter last July, which led to the installation of VR4 satellite receivers and an alert tower at Bunker Bay. Embodied Ocean Freediving instructor Dario Carpenito said he took the necessary precautions during his dive classes, but he advocated against the use of drum lines. “Personally, I find myself comfortable enough when I’m in the water,” Mr Carpenito said. “I don’t agree too much with things like drum lines — it is their environment and we can’t take all of them out of the ocean. “When I jump into the water, I know I am entering into an environment that doesn’t belong to us, so I go in there with a respect.” In 2018, the State Government installed non-lethal SMART drum lines as part of a one-year trial, which has since been extended for another 12 months. Vasse MLA and shadow fisheries minister Libby Mettam, a supporter of the SMART drum lines, said the trial was a step in the right direction. “The SMART drum-line trial in Gracetown is a valuable part of shark mitigation along with VR4 receivers to provide real-time alerts, but we need to be investing in new technology as it becomes available to ensure public safety is always the priority,” she said. Department of Primary Industry and Regional Development manager of Statewide operations Peter Godfrey said large numbers of people travelling to the South West meant there were more people to report sightings, but there could be other factors at play. “Offshore breezes and clear waters have made conditions attractive, and clear waters means sharks are more easily seen,” he said. “There have also been reports of baitfish close to coast in South West waters, which also attract sharks.” Mr Carpenito, who said he sometimes saw sharks while taking classes at Canal Rocks, hoped to see people spending time in the water become better educated. “What I would love is to see more eduction for people who are spending time in the ocean,” he said. “I think more education is the key point to start preventing incidents, especially down south here.”