Local MP Andew Hastie has called on talks about the commercial fishing of sharks in Western Australia in an attempt to manage the number of sharks around the coast and protect beachgoers.
“We can also take preventive measures to reduce the risk of a shark attack to beachgoes,” he said.
“I think we need to have a conversation about the commercial fishing of sharks in Western Australia, in order to mange the number of sharks in our waters in a sustainable and humane way.”
Commercial fishing for sharks is limited mostly to two different fisheries along Western Australia’s coast: the West Coast shark fishery, which extends from Shark Bay to Bunbury, and the Southern shark fishery, which extends from Bunbury to the border with South Australia.
Both fisheries mostly focus on catching dusky whaler, sandbar, gummy and whiskery sharks for human consumption, which generally aren’t a threat to beach users.
None of the main three species that pose a risk to human safety, the white shark, the tiger shark and the bull shark, are caught for consumption.
Most fatalities are attributed to white sharks in Western Australia, according to Surf Life Saving WA.
Shark fishing in the metropolitan area was closed in November 2007 from Lancelin to Lake Preston due to the reduction of fish stocks related to overfishing.
Department of Fisheries South West Bioregions manager Tim Nicholas said there is no evidence to support that an expansion of commercial shark fishing would reduce the chances of being attacked by a shark.
He highlighted the fact that white sharks are protected species from fishing under both the state and Commonwealth of Australia legislation based on scientific advice, and are currently listed as vulnerable species.
Shadow minister for fisheries David Kelly labelled Mr Hastie’s approach as ‘simplistic’.
“To take commercial shark fishing as a way to make the beaches safer it’s a very simplistic approach,” he said.
“It would be extremely unpopular to start fishing specifically for white sharks.”
Mr Kelly also said that to reduce the threat to beach users, a significant amount of white sharks would need to be caught, threatening the continuation of the species.
He said people who are mostly at risk of being attacked are divers and surfers, and recent technology developments had come up with devices to protect the lives of those in the water more effectively.
“New technology like the shark shield provide real protection for people,” he said.
"That’s where the government should be investing their resources.”
Minister for fisheries Joe Francis didn’t comment.