The proposal is to undertake a trial of the SMART drumlines as a non-lethal shark hazard mitigation tool in Western Australian conditions. In doing so, it is proposed to catch, tag, relocate and release white sharks. The proposal is located in waters offshore from Gracetown (offshore from Shire of Augusta Margaret River), in the Ngari Capes Marine Park. The duration of the trial will be for 15 months.
Where possible, the proposed WA SMART drumline project has been aligned with the NSW SMART drumline operations to provide greater opportunities for comparative data analysis.
White sharks are listed as ‘Vulnerable’ and are protected by both State and Commonwealth legislation.
Note: SMART is acronym for (Shark Management Alert in Real Time).