Data reveals just two white sharks have been caught 10 months into the $3.8 million trial of SMART drum lines off WA's South West coast.
Ten months after the launch of SMART drum lines off WA's South West coast, there are calls for a rethink of the multi-million dollar-program amid limited results.Critics say it has been a missed opportunityThe drum lines have been deployed along an 11.5 kilometre stretch of the Margaret River coast about 200 times since the program to capture, tag, move and release great white sharks began in February.
But more than two-thirds of the way through the 15-month trial, just two white sharks have been caught by the non-lethal drum lines as part of the $3.8 million SMART program. While more than 100 sharks have been caught in total, the program was specifically targeting white pointers, with a focus on monitoring their behaviour after they were released.The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development insisted the drum line program was working well but admitted the lack of captured white sharks was making it difficult to meet the aim of monitoring their behaviour.
He said the very small number of white sharks caught was not a surprise, given estimates that the population of the animals between WA and Victoria is just 1,600."The trial is operating well so far and we are very happy with the contractor's performance."
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