Threats Scupper Perth Shark Kill Tender

[icyfroth]

Threats have frightened off the professional fishermen who were vying for the contract to operate the WA government's contentious shark policy.

Threats to the safety of fishermen being paid to kill sharks for the West Australian government has forced Premier Colin Barnett to order his own Fisheries officers to carry out the controversial catch and kill policy instead.

The anger against the WA government's creation of a 1km kill zone full of baited hooks off the coast has become so heated that personal threats have been made towards Fisheries Minister Ken Baston, and the firms who tendered for the right to patrol as government "shark sheriffs".

The threats were deemed so serious the firm that won the contract to monitor Perth beaches has pulled out and WA police have been informed.

Mr Baston confirmed on Monday that a government boat staffed with Fisheries officers will do the job instead, to begin within weeks.

"That particular tender pulled out because of the worry of threats to him and his family, so now we will use the Department of Fisheries to have a boat available and so we are putting that together," Mr Baston said.

"I would say that will happen within a matter of weeks.

"Everyone is entitled to peaceful action, but when people make personal threats on people's lives then that is appalling, and that is a police matter."

The other potential fishermen who applied for the contract were not successful, and would not be offered the contract, Mr Baston said.

Despite the threats, he said fisheries officials were happy to do the work.

"Anyone is worried about a security threat, and of course everyone is taking it seriously," Mr Baston said.

The WA shark policy has prompted a furious reaction from environmental activists, who have said they will take direct action against the drumlines, and those who operate them.

Activist Simon Peterffy denied any threats had been made by those in his Marine Response Unit organisation.

"The government has no-one to put these drumlines out in the water for them," Mr Peterffy said.

"These campaigns have scared these fishermen, and they don't want to be seen culling these marine animals."

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[topsidesoul]

Could of been the thousands of people who use the waters and did not want it and protested.

[lind9650]

I can understand that they want to keep the sharks away from the coastline where people are swimming and surfing, but to plant a drumline with baited hooks is likely to attract more sharks, and therefore more sharks will be killed than really neccessary.

Sharks are born in the oceans, people are not. It is the sharks homeground that people are invading.

By all means patrol the coastline and warn the people when sharks are close, but baiting sharks to be killed is the same as killing whales and dolphins for so called research.

Erica (and NO, I am not a greenie)

[topsidesoul]

Not sure which way to lean?

I swim in the ocean weekly and have only encountered dolphins swimming next to me.

On the other hand I'd hate to be eaten alive...

[not.a.sock.puppet]

Dolphins are good protection, love.

Also good to swim were there's lots of people, love. The old safety in numbers rule, ay!

[icyfroth]

Drum lines catch first shark

Premier Colin Barnett says he gets no pleasure at seeing sharks killed but his responsibility as Premier was the safety of beachgoers.

Speaking today after the first shark was caught and kill under the State Government's drum line policy, Mr Barnett said he was pleased the shark mitigation plan was underway and that it would reduce the risk to beachgoers.

The shark, which appeared to be a 3m tiger shark, was pulled from the water shortly after 7am on a drum-line off Meelup Beach near Dunsborough.

It was shot in the head up to four times at close range.

Yesterday afternoon, amid pressure from the Government for the policy to come into force in time for the Australia Day long weekend, several lines were set either side of Dunsborough.

Despite fierce opposition and repeated claims of "direct action", environmental activists have not intervened.

The shark has been dumped off Cape Naturaliste.

Link To Article

[not.a.sock.puppet]

 

[the_great_she_elephant]

I suspect swimmers are  in more danger of being killed in a car crash on their way to the beach than  of being taken by a shark when they get there.

[siggie-reported-by-alarmists]

Tell that to the people who have been attacked.......or the families who have lost a loved one......