A 19-YEAR-OLD woman was arrested early this morning after chaining herself to a Department of Fisheries vessel in protest of the State Government's shark cull.
It is alleged the woman climbed a fence at the Fremantle Boat Harbour before locking herself onto a vessel moored at the harbour.
Police were called about 4.30am and when it was realised the woman could not free herself, the Department of Fire and Emergency Services were called in to cut her free.
The woman was issued a move-on notice and will appear in court at a later date for trespassing.
The escalating protest comes as more state-wide events are scheduled for today.
According to Piers Verstegen, from the Conservation Council of WA and a member of the Save Our Marine Life Alliance, the shark cull is driven by fear, not science.
"It will push threatened species further to the brink, and puts dolphins, turtles, whales and other marine life at risk," he said.
"Over 80 per cent of Western Australians are opposed to the cull, and support non-lethal methods of reducing shark risk".
Mr Verstegen said he urged members of the public to contact their local MP in protest to the cull after the first shark was caught and killed with four shots from a rifle just days ago.
"There is no science to support the Premier's claim that indiscriminate killing of marine life will lead to safer beaches," Mr Verstegen said.
"In fact, baited hooks near swimming beaches could in fact draw more sharks closer to people."
Hundreds of locals supported the first beach-side protest with celebrities, media personalities and hundreds of scientists now joining the campaign to save our sharks.
Protests will be held across the State today with the nearest protest in Warnbro from 10.30am.
Others will gather at Perth, Bunbury, Dunsborough, Coral Bay, Shark Bay and Broome while interstate there will be three separate protests in New South Wales, two each in Victoria and South Australia and one in Queensland and Tasmania.
The protest has extended internationally with a rally to be held in Wellington, New Zealand today.
Those who want to have their say on the shark cull can go to http://ccwa.org.au/nosharkcull and sign the online petition.