Australian's and scientists around the world share a growing concern for both human safety and ocean health. Note the ABC article by Stephanie Daizell updated last Friday here advising that EPA Western Australia has advised against extending the state catch and kill shark policy and that the shark drum lines have been dumped. Here is an excerpt from the article:
"Following a spate of fatal shark attacks in the state, in January the WA Government introduced a 13-week trial where baited drum lines were set off Perth and South West beaches."
"During the trial, which cost the Government $1.3 million, 68 sharks were caught and shot, although none of them were great white sharks."
"The catch-and-kill policy was widely opposed with hundreds attending community rallies and international marine scientists calling for it to be scrapped"
If killing sharks is taken off the table then other innovations for human safety become a priority. In the US, New Zealand and Hawaii non-lethal shark control methods like signs and flags to education the public and use of tracking devices on sharks to determine migration patterns. Development of Electro magnetic deterrents, use of drones and biomimicry are others.
Awareness and support of the Clever Bouy technology is growing and Bondi will be one of the first beaches in Australia to trial the new shark detection system developed by Shark Mitigation Systems, Optus and Google. The creation uses sonar technology and a satellite to detect shark-sized marine life in the water while a sonar on the seabed will send out beams and capture information about animals in its path.
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