Western Australia Near-Complete Ban On Shark Fishing

In response to growing concerns about public safety following two fatal shark attacks in the past three years, the Western Australian government is set to enforce a comprehensive ban on the use of shark fishing gear at all Perth beaches, effective from November 3. This includes a ban on the use of wire trace within 800 meters of the shoreline for all metropolitan Perth beaches.

The decision comes in response to two fatal shark attacks in Perth’s southern waters over the past three years, underlining the need for protective measures. In February of this year, a 16-year-old girl, Stella Berry, lost her life to a shark while swimming in the Swan River in North Fremantle. Additionally, Paul Millachip, aged 57, suffered a fatal shark bite while swimming at Fremantle’s Port Beach in November 2021.

WA Fisheries Minister Don Punch emphasized that these restrictions would effectively bring an end to shark fishing from the land. “Essentially it is to stop the dangerous practice of people bringing sharks into the beach environment where they do pose a threat to people who might be swimming or enjoying the beach,” he told ABC Radio Perth. Looking ahead, Punch suggested the possibility of extending these restrictions to the state’s regional areas. “We are going to make this available in regional areas, should a local government from a regional area want to look at a particular swimming beach,” he said. “But because of the population density that we do have in the Perth metro area, we’ve acted.”

The ban will apply to almost 100 miles (150 kilometers) of coastline, extending from south of Mandurah to just north of the Two Rocks Marina. Violators of these new regulations will face fines ranging from $50 to $400, with repeat offenders at risk of incurring fines of up to $5,000.

Dr. Andrew Rowland, CEO of Recfishwest, acknowledged the need for some restrictions on shark fishing from metropolitan shores but expressed concerns that the government’s approach was overly heavy-handed. He argued that the ban could negatively impact fishers who use small wire traces to fish for species such as tailor and mackerel from the shore or from boats near the coast: “We proposed to the minister reasonable and workable measures that would have put in place limits on the diameter and length of wire trace restricting shark fishing and we don’t understand why they were not accepted.” In response, Punch assured that there are alternative methods for recreational fishing on or near the shore that do not require wire trace. He encouraged those affected by the ban to consult their local tackle stores to explore the variety of substitutes available.

Western Australia is known for its rich marine biodiversity, and it hosts numerous shark species. The exact number of shark species found in these waters can vary, and include various reef sharks, larger predatory species, and smaller, less well-known sharks. Yet the state’s history with sharks is marked by controversy, particularly during the shark culling program that happened a decade prior. This initiative was also initiated in response to a series of fatal shark attacks along the Western Australian coast, and involved setting baited hooks (known as drum lines) near popular beaches to capture and kill sharks larger than three meters. However, it faced significant opposition from various people, including conservationists, marine biologists, and the general public. Critics argued that the cull was ecologically unsound and ineffective at improving safety, as it did not consider the migratory nature of the targeted sharks (great whites) and their role in marine ecosystems. Amidst the controversy and protests, the cull program was eventually halted and replaced with a more targeted approach focused on shark monitoring, tagging, public education, and non-lethal deterrent methods, acknowledging the need to balance beach safety with marine conservation. In fact, the Western Australian Government is providing a $200 rebate to residents of WA who buy an authorized personal shark deterrent device.

It’s another step in the right direction, according to Shark Safety campaigner Lisa Hills: “The main reason people take part in shark fishing is for social media clout, comparing to see who has the best ‘trophy’. Now it is illegal they might be less willing to share online and will be less likely to bother trying to catch a shark in the first place.”

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