THE Environmental Protection Authority is asking for public comment on the WA Shark Mitigation Drum Line Program for 2014-2017.
The proposal will be open to the community for four weeks.
The proposal involves 72 baited drum lines off the metropolitan and South West coast.
The drum lines will be active for four and half months each year for three years starting on November 15, 2014 and finishing April 30 2017.
“Unlike this summer’s 13-and-a-half week drum-line program, the EPA will need to undertake a detailed assessment of the environmental impacts, including the cumulative impacts of implementing a 22-week program every year for three consecutive years to determine whether or not the EPA’s objectives for marine fauna can be met,” Environmental Protection Authority Chairman Dr Paul Vogel said.
The authority decided to assess the proposal to determine whether the environmental impacts could be managed.
“The new proposal was also referred to the Commonwealth Department of the Environment and we are working closely with our Commonwealth counterparts to ensure a coordinated approach,” Dr Vogel said.
“The Commonwealth is yet to make a decision on whether or not the proposal is considered to be a Controlled Action – that significant impacts are considered likely.”
There were 543 public comments on the referral registered on the authority’s website. There was also more than 9,000 comments lodged with the authority via the Conservation Council during the seven-day period.
The majority of these opposed the deployment of drum lines for catching and destroying sharks.
As a result of the amount of public interest the authority decided a public review was warranted.
“It is important to reiterate that the EPA has made a decision on whether or not the proposal requires an environmental impact assessment, not a decision on whether or not the Government’s policy is working,” Dr Vogel said.
The proposal, referred on April 9 by the department of premier and cabinet, would see drum lines set about one kilometre offshore from popular beaches and surfing spots within two marine monitored areas.
One from Ocean Reef to Port Beach in Perth and from Quindalup to Prevelly in the South West.
It includes a provision for responding to identified shark threats and incidents at any time within WA waters.
The EPA’s report and recommendations will be released later in the year and will be open to appeal.
For more information visit epa.wa.gov.au
