Lethal drum lines and shark nets across Australia should be immediately phased out and other states should follow in WA's steps to subsidise personal shark deterrent devices, an Australian senate inquiry has found.
The Environment and Communications References Senate Committee into Shark Mitigation and Deterrent Measures, which held two of its public hearings in Perth - one just three days after a fatal shark attack in Esperance - has tabled a list of 20 recommendations to improve ocean safety.
The WA state government's approach to shark mitigation was largely vindicated through the report, with the inquiry recommending New South Wales and Queensland cease the use of lethal drum lines and shark nets near its beaches.
The report also recommended other states take WA's lead and provide a rebate scheme for ocean users to purchase independently verified personal shark deterrent devices, such as the Shark Shield.
"In the committee's view, the use of lethal shark control measures in Australia should end," the report concluded.
"The committee acknowledges that non-lethal measures are not 100 per cent effective in preventing a shark bite incident from occurring. However, the same observation applies to lethal devices.
"Evidence presented to the committee regarding non-lethal measures clearly indicates that new and emerging technologies can provide effective protection in many circumstances without causing the damage to the marine environment associated with nets."
Fisheries Minister Dave Kelly said he hoped the results of the inquiry would encourage WA Liberal and National members to "stop playing politics" and support WA's new shark strategy.
"The McGowan Government will continue to look at new technologies that are backed by science to improve shark mitigation in WA," he said.
After Labor formed government in WA in March, Premier Mark McGowan refocused the state's shark mitigation strategy to focus on non-lethal protective measures such as personal shark deterrents and increased beach surveillance - introducing beach drone patrols this December.
The policy was a far cry from the baited drum lines and 'catch and kill' strategies introduced by the former Barnett government, which were widely criticised by environmental groups.
The senate inquiry, however, stopped short of recommending a total ban on lethal shark control programs, but suggested those that remained in place should be reviewed for their efficacy and impacts on marine populations.
Sea Shepherd Australia spokeswoman Allyson Jennings said she was pleased the report had focused on recommending more research, education and preventative measures to protect ocean users ahead of lethal methods.
"Some governments are more proactive and willing to look at the solutions versus the knee-jerk reaction," she said.
"The report recommended a review into beach signage and real time information, which I think is a really important thing because it basically puts the power back in the hands of ocean users so they can make that decision whether they enter the water or not," she said.
"There's also a recommendation for a grant program for trauma kits and that's a fantastic idea because it appears a lot of the incidents are happening at unpatrolled beaches and if you have that at the local cafe just across from the beach, you could save a life if something was to happen."
The report proposed the specialised trauma kits be available to beaches via a state or federal government grants program.
It also recommended the establishment of a publicly accessible national database which would list shark and non-shark species interactions with shark mitigation control methods.
This data would then be assessed to determine the impacts lethal control methods had on marine life.
Ongoing data collection to better determine shark populations and locations, to be undertaken by CSIRO, was also suggested, as well as a commitment by the federal government to match each state's shark mitigation program funding.
