Question On Notice No. 2172 asked in the Legislative Council on 23 October 2014 by Hon Lynn Maclaren
Question Directed to the: Minister for Fisheries
Parliament: 39 Session: 1
Question
I refer to the Government’s response following a shark bite incident at Wylie Bay on 2 October 2014, and ask:
(a) at what time on 2 October 2014 did the Government become aware of the shark bite incident;
(b) at what time on 2 October 2014 were drum lines deployed in the vicinity of the incident;
(c) how many people were on the vessel that was used to deploy the drum lines;
(d) will the Minister please list the job or position titles and the organisations of each of the individuals referred to in (3);
(e) was there a firearm for euthanising a large marine animal on board the vessel;
(f) was there an individual appropriately qualified to use a firearm on board the vessel;
(g) at what time on 2 October 2014 was the first great white shark recovered on the gear and what was its condition;
(h) at what time on 2 October 2014 was the second great white shark recovered on the gear and what was its condition;
(i) was either shark euthanised and, if so, who did this;
(j) what was the reason for continuing to deploy capture gear after one shark had been killed, given the exemption granted by the Federal Minister only refers to a single shark;
(k) given beaches were closed in the immediate vicinity of the incident, and the wider Wylie Bay area was in the process of being closed at the time shark capture gear was deployed, how can it be claimed that there was imminent threat from the shark or sharks, following the incident;
(l) what evidence does the Government have to indicate that a shark that has bitten a human is more likely to bite other humans than other sharks; and
(m) does the Minister believe in the rogue shark theory that was developed in the 1930s which is dismissed as unsubstantiated on the government’s SharkSmart website?
Answered on 19 November 2014
(a) The Department of Fisheries Esperance Office was advised of an unconfirmed shark attack at Wylie Bay at 11.15 am on 2 October 2014.
(b) The first drumline was deployed at approximately 12.18 pm and the second at 12.25 pm.
(c) 2
(d) Senior Fisheries and Marine Officer and Fisheries and Marine Officer.
(e) No
(f) Not applicable
(g) The first shark was dead on the line and recovered at 3:13 pm.
(h) The second shark was dead on the line and recovered at 6:49 pm.
(i) No
(j) There was no further deployment of gear following the initial deployment at 12:18 pm and 12:25 pm.
(k) Wylie Bay beach is approximately 15 km long. Beaches were closed in the immediate vicinity of the incident, and the wider Wylie Bay area was in the process of being closed at the time shark capture gear was deployed. People use the area for camping, surfing and swimming and this incident occurred during the school holidays. The area is also remote and it was not possible to be sure that everyone in the area had been advised of the closure.
(l) Sharks that have attacked humans are considered a serious threat.
(m) The actions taken were not based upon any rogue shark theory.