West Australian surfers have been sluggish to take up the state government’s offer of subsidised personal shark deterrent devices, statistics have revealed.
Despite being the main victims of shark attacks across the state, data acquired by the Mandurah Mail from applications for WA Fisheries Minister Dave Kelly’s Shark Deterrent Rebate Scheme has revealed surfers have been slow to embrace the deal.
To date, more than 2400 West Australians have purchased a personal shark deterrent device.
Of those, 310 deterrents have been bought by surfers.
In the City of Mandurah area, a total of 95 people have purchased a device, 14 of which were surfers.
Despite only 12.9 per cent of people who capitalised on the rebate being surfers, Mr Kelly said the state government was “pleased with the uptake of the personal shark deterrent devices”.
The shark shield program was an election promise of the McGowan Government, which will pay a $200 rebate on the first 1000 shark deterrent devices sold.
That cap was lifted after when the new deterrent was included.
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Following the tragic death of 17-year-old Singleton surfer Laeticia Brouwer, who was attacked by a great white shark near Esperance in April 2017, the state government renewed their push for ocean-goers to embrace the mitigation scheme.
Laeticia was the 15th person killed by a shark in Western Australia since 2000.
Of those deaths, 40 per cent of were surfers.
Six were surfers, three were divers, two were swimming, two were snorkelling, one was bodyboarding and one was spearfishing.
When the rebate scheme was first rolled out, it only covered the FREEDOM7 device.
At the time, Mr Kelly said the device was “effective as a deterrent whether it is used by divers or surfers” but revealed it was “best suited” to diving, snorkelling or kayaking and not surfing.
In May 2018, Mr Kelly announced the inclusion of surfer specific device Surf+ to the subsidy.
The move came after a Flinders University study revealed new shark deterrent being subsidised by the state government reduces the risk of a shark interaction by up to 60 per cent.
During the Flinders University study, four other deterrents tested included Rpela, SharkBanz bracelet, SharkBanz surf leash, and Chillax Wax.
While the inclusion saw a jump in surfers purchasing the device, the numbers were still far less than anticipated.
“Naturally, more FREEDOM7 devices have been sold because this device has been available for a subsidy for 17 months,” Mr Kelly said.
“Whereas the surfer specific device has only been available from May 2018, when independent scientific test results were released and showed the Surf+ device to be effective as a deterrent.
“Obviously, I’d be happy if every WA surfer had a personal shark deterrent.”
With the festive season fast approaching, Mr Kelly even promoted the technology as an ideal Christmas gift for passionate surfers.
“I think a scientifically proven personal shark deterrent would be the ideal Christmas present for every surfer,” Mr Kelly said.
There are more than 500 device rebates remaining for the two accredited deterrents available through the program.
In March, Mr Kelly released the data after the opposition raised questions in legislative assembly about the success of the rebate for the FREEDOM7 device.
At the time 1650 applications for the initiative had been approved state-wide, with only seven being rejected across the process.
The highest uptake of the device was from divers, with 1259 people purchasing the technology for the activity.
Spearfishing was the second highest uptake, with 169 application being approved.
Surfers didn’t even place third, fourth or fifth on the list of activities, with kayaking applications totalling 68, snorkelling at 61 and all other recreations reaching 63.
Only 27 applications listed surfing as the purpose for purchasing a personal shark deterrent devices.
In the Mandurah postcode, only 52 applications were received for the device and only 51 granted.
Mr Kelly said the rebate formed just one facet of their “comprehensive shark mitigation strategy”.
These strategies also included funding for Surf Life Saving WA beach, helicopter and drone patrols, expanding the Shark Monitoring Network to Esperance, tagging operations, funding Beach Emergency Number signs and provided funding for a swimming enclosure at Falcon.
Debate about shark mitigation was thrust to the forefront of locals minds this month when 20-year-old Albany bodyboarder Noah Symmans was attacked by a grey-nurse shark off Pyramids Beach on November 11.
Luckily the Great Southern man managed to get away from the creature, pull himself up to the rocks and signal for help.
He was airlifted to Royal Perth Hospital by the RAC rescue helicopter where he was treated for leg injuries.
The incident sparked action from Dawesville MP Zak Kirkup who renewed calls that Mandurah should be included in the SMART drumline trial that is being conducted in Gracetown.
“Very disappointing” was how Mr Kirkup best described the government’s approach to SMART drumlines and mitigation tactics in WA.
Mr Kirkup hasn’t been the only critic of the way the state government has dealt with the matter.
Shadow spokeswoman for shark-related issues Libby Mettam has hit back at the Labor government, stating the subsidy wasn’t “sufficient” in meeting the state’s safety needs.
In state parliament on November 27, Ms Mettam also criticised the government’s decision to use a Spanish company to manufacture the drumlines for the South West.
Mr Kelly also used Tuesday’s sitting to launch a new campaign called Sea Sense, which involves five new initiatives to boost beach safety.
Mandurah Board Riders president Simon Wroth said at the time of the attack on Mr Symmans in Dawesville, the club was holding a competition nearby.
He said a group of boys in the under 10 years division were competing in a heat at the time.
“The water was cleared rapidly by ourselves and Port Bouvard Surf Life Saving Club,” he said.
Mr Wroth said the response taken by the local life-saving club was “extremely professional and a true credit to their members”.
He said the situation was a concern from a club point of view.
“Obviously, safety for our members is a paramount,” he said.
“When we’re holding competitions there is a certain degree of worry with parents when their kids are out in the water.
“The end goal is to reach a point where we have eliminated as many hazards and risk as possible to run our events.
“Sharks are obviously something considered in our risk management profile and we fall in line with the Surfing WA as our governing body, in doing what we can within economic constraints to limit those encounters.
“Many of our members and sponsors have differing opinions in relation to the topic and as we have experienced recent tragedy it is something quite raw and close to our hearts.
“[It’s] a topic that is revisited almost weekly and consideration must go to all members feelings on the topic.
“The club, unfortunately, gets drawn into the topic as our sport and lifestyle choice is within the ocean.
“We would like to get on with providing a platform to showcase the healthy and competitive fun side of the sport of surfing.”
Mr Wroth said a number of members had taken up the rebate for surfing however many had not for their own personal reasons.
“My understanding is that the personal surfboard deterrents are not effective on smaller sized boards, he said.
“Most junior surfers at a higher skill level within the Mandurah Boardriders are surfing with smaller boards so perhaps their parents feel there is little point spending the money on the deterrent if it is not going to be effective.
“I feel a combination of mitigation techniques including drones, helicopters, increased water safety patrols and the possible use of SMART drumlines should all be considered and trialed to decrease the chance of encounters and incidents and allow people to enjoy the ocean with less concern for their safety.”
The club has since discussed advocating the state government to fund further water safety measures during their competitions.
“When you look at all the competitions you do, the level of cost is huge for a non-profit sporting club to cover,” he said.
“If we could get some government funding to cover it, that would be brilliant.
“It is a smart move that the government is going to be trialing [SMART drumlines] down south and I look forward to seeing the results and hope that the scientific research they obtain will further help mitigation strategies in the future.”
Do you have an opinion on this issue? E-mail a letter editor.mandurahmail@fairfaxmedia.com.au.
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