SHARK DRUM LINE PROGRAM
103. Hon LYNN MacLAREN to the
Minister for Fisheries:
I refer to the government's media statement of 27 December
2013 that lists stakeholders that the government consulted about its new policy
of using baited drum lines to catch sharks.
(1) Please
name the job titles of all the individuals at each of the following government
agencies whom the government consulted about its plan to use drum lines to
capture and kill large sharks prior to announcing the strategy on 10 December
2013 —
(a) Department
of Fisheries;
(b) Department
of Parks and Wildlife; and
(c) Environmental
Protection Authority.
(2) Did any of
those consulted from the above organisations advise that the baited hook drum
lines would reduce shark attacks?
(3) Please
give the names of the ''more than 40 shark experts'' from various
Australian universities whom the government consulted about its plan to use
drum lines to capture and kill large sharks prior to announcing the strategy on
10 December 2013.
Hon
KEN BASTON replied:
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
(1) Consultation
was conducted during early December 2013 by the office of Minister Buswell,
then Minister for Fisheries, with a wide variety of water users.
(a) The
director general was consulted, as were representatives of the research
division and regional services division.
(b) The director general and at
least one other policy adviser were consulted.
(c) Not
applicable. The Office of the Environmental Protection Authority was notified
of the policy following its release.
(2) There was
a broad appreciation of the shark mitigation strategies already in place and
that consideration needed to be given to additional measures.
(3) Local,
national and international research institutions, including the University of
Western Australia, Bond University, the University of Sydney, James Cook
University, the CSIRO and the Marine Conservation Science Institute, were
approached for input, as were representatives from a range of organisations,
including commercial fishing industries, commercial fishing peak bodies and
recreational water user groups, including Surfing WA, PADI Aware, Mullaloo Surf
Life Saving Club and boardrider associations.