No WA Shark Cull

Minister confirms tiger sharks are not associated with fatalities in WA

Submitted by Nadine Walker on Thu, 27/02/2014 - 16:32

Media statement, Thursday 27 February, 2014.

Greens MLC Lynn MacLaren says the Fisheries Minister’s answers in Parliament this week confirm that tiger sharks – by far the main species killed on drum lines to date – have not been responsible for fatal attacks in WA.

“Despite his earlier claims to the contrary in media interviews, there has never been a confirmed fatality caused by a tiger shark in WA,” Ms MacLaren said.

“The Minister yesterday conceded this in Parliament stating: ‘Of the seven fatalities in Western Australia in the past three years, it is understood that several were confirmed white shark attacks and the remainder were suspected white shark attacks. However, tiger sharks have been associated with shark attacks in Western Australia and fatalities in the rest of Australia’.
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Legal challenge over sharks begun

Submitted by Nadine Walker on Wed, 26/02/2014 - 11:19

Media statement, Wednesday, 26 February 2014.

The Greens say that today’s legal challenge by Sea Shepherd to the Barnett Government’s shark cull, relating to the legality of exemptions granted under State laws, is a powerful blow to the cull.

“The Government’s lack of consultation, absence of scientific foundation, its back door exemption letter from the Federal Minister while Parliament was in recess over Christmas and its running roughshod over State laws that protect wildlife and fisheries, triggered a blaring alarm for those who have a sense of proper process,” Greens MLC Lynn MacLaren said.
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Shark attacks - Hazard mitigation strategy: Questions

Submitted by Nadine Walker on Fri, 21/02/2014 - 15:05

SHARK ATTACKS — HAZARD MITIGATION STRATEGY
1042. Hon LYNN MacLAREN to the Minister for Fisheries:
I congratulate the minister on his new role. Read more »

Great white shark - hazard mitigation strategy: Petition

Submitted by Nadine Walker on Fri, 21/02/2014 - 13:31


HON LYNN MacLAREN (South Metropolitan) [1.04 pm]: I present a petition containing 381 signatures couched in the following terms —
To the President and Members of the Legislative Council of the Parliament of Western Australia in Parliament assembled. Read more »

Shark proof enclosures - Western Australian beaches: Questions

Submitted by Nadine Walker on Fri, 21/02/2014 - 13:30

[1]
SHARK-PROOF ENCLOSURES — WESTERN AUSTRALIAN BEACHES
1008. Hon LYNN MacLAREN to the Leader of the House representing the Premier:
I refer to plans to install shark-proof enclosures off Old Dunsborough and Coogee beaches. Read more »

Department of Fisheries - Shark hazard mitigation strategy: Questions

Submitted by Nadine Walker on Fri, 21/02/2014 - 13:28

DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES — SHARK HAZARD MITIGATION STRATEGY
998. Hon LYNN MacLAREN to the minister representing the Minister for Fisheries:
I refer to the report titled “Likely effectiveness of netting or other capture programs as a shark hazard mitigation strategy in Western Australia” prepared for the Department of Fisheries in 2012. Read more »

What was under the tarp, Minister?

Submitted by Nadine Walker on Thu, 20/02/2014 - 12:46

Media statement, Thursday 20 February 2014.

Greens MLC Lynn MacLaren has called on the Government to reveal what animal it ordered to be hidden under a tarpaulin on a Fisheries drum lining boat off Perth today after a reports of a juvenile dolphin in the area.

“This morning a surf skier on the water apparently saw a juvenile dolphin near the drum lines off Leighton Beach and she followed the animal for about 100 metres,” Ms MacLaren said.

“About  20 minutes later, the surf skier witnessed officers on a Fisheries boat pulling something that she thought it might be the dolphin, aboard.
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Shark protestors take to steps of Parliament

Submitted by Nadine Walker on Tue, 18/02/2014 - 11:40

Media statement, Tuesday, 18 February 2014.

Outrage towards the continuing drum-line program will be expressed on the steps of Parliament today as MPs returns for the first sitting since the controversial shark strategy was implemented. WA Greens MLC Lynn MacLaren says that the WA Government’s shark mitigation strategy has failed.

“What are the drum lines doing to protect people from great white sharks, which have been implicated in all recent WA shark deaths, given the overwhelming catch to date is undersized tiger sharks?
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Have your say on an EPA assessment of the shark drum lines

Submitted by Shane Guthrie on Mon, 17/02/2014 - 17:37

If you haven’t done so already, please consider taking the opportunity to express your opinion to the WA Environmental Protection Authority on the WA Government’s drum lining strategy before the current public comment period closes this Thursday 20 February.

Go to https://consultation.epa.wa.gov.au/seven-day-comment-on-referrals/shark-drum-line-deployment-management/consult_view and take a few minutes to complete the survey.
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Shark cull a costly exercise in futility

Submitted by Shane Guthrie on Thu, 13/02/2014 - 13:57

As the State Government continues to spend thousands of dollars daily on a shark cull, accumulating statistics confirm that the unpopular policy is not making any water users safer.

“The overwhelming majority of sharks killed since drum lines were introduced in late January have been tiger sharks, which, according to the Government’s own shark website ‘may have only been responsible for one shark bite in WA since 1980’,”  Greens MLC Lynn MacLaren said.

“Meanwhile, the South-West drum lining contractor has also revealed that he has been capturing mako sharks, which are a protected migratory species under Federal legislation and also are not considered a threat species.

“Ironically, it appears that few or no to-size great white sharks have been caught, yet this is the only shark species implicated in recent fatal attacks off WA. Read more »