WA Government announces Great White Tourism including Cage Diving to be banned

http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Pages/WACabinetMinistersSearch.aspx?ItemId=150444&minister=Moore&admin=Barnett

http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/wa-ban-on-shark-cages/story-e6frg12c-1226419829214


WA says no to shark cage tourism

Portfolio: Fisheries

  • Regulations to rule out tourism ventures based on attracting sharks
  • Research shows potential for these operations to change shark behaviour
  • State policy set for potential operators

Fisheries Minister Norman Moore today announced that regulations were being drafted for a State ban on targeted or dedicated shark tourism ventures, including cage diving operations, based on the attraction of sharks.

 

“I have decided that Western Australia will not be the place for shark cage tourism, like those currently operating in South Australia and South Africa,” Mr Moore said.

 

“There have been no formal applications for such ventures in WA as yet, but I have acted to let any potential operators know this State’s policy.

 

“While such ventures may generate direct or indirect economic benefits, there are also concerns that sustained activities to attract sharks to feeding opportunities have the potential to change the behaviour patterns of those sharks.”

 

The Minister said South Australia and South Africa had cage diving operations at specific sites where white sharks were known to form significant aggregations, but WA did not have any known areas where sharks congregated.

 

“Lack of such sites in WA may result in operators wanting to maximise berleying and baiting to attract sharks to meet tourist expectations, which may have unwanted consequences,” he said.

 

“CSIRO research at shark cage diving sites in South Australia found that white sharks in the study area changed their distribution to align with areas of active berleying and, while there was no determination from the study about the longer term effects on shark behaviour or outside the study area, I would prefer to take no risks until more is known.

 

“With four fatalities in WA from shark interactions, since last September, the Government is not willing to allow any ventures that may raise even greater public fears than already exist.”


chookc's picture

Posts: 442

Date Joined: 07/01/10

This is one decision I am in

Tue, 2012-07-10 07:09

This is one decision I am in agreeance on..  I think for the time being its the right call...

Chris fish's picture

Posts: 847

Date Joined: 23/02/11

 I agree with it but this is

Tue, 2012-07-10 07:37

 I agree with it but this is also one step closer towards banning fishing for big sharks altogether because of baits attracting them near people or so people could say, I think there is a lot more out there than people think and I'm sure fisheries have some info somewhere on sharks numbers and if that got published there would be a lot more than just this law getting passed because of everyone freaking out. If info on numbers was released in sure a lot of people would try and remove the size restrictions on whaler sharks that's for sure.

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Buz's picture

Posts: 1555

Date Joined: 28/08/07

Oh well off to South Oz then

Tue, 2012-07-10 14:05

Oh well off to South Oz then to have some fun in a cage :)
I for one am not one of the public that would have my fears raised if there was cage diving ventures here. And yes i do work as a Dive Master on dive trips here in WA waters, so i am very aware of the dangers of being in the water, not for just myself but for a groups of students too. But it is the Ocean, so stick to the freshwater if your afraid of sharks i reckon. Unless your up north then you are probably afraid of crocs too, so pools might be the go. :P

Posts: 5981

Date Joined: 17/06/10

well done norman moore

Tue, 2012-07-10 14:22

a great decission norm full agree withj it

tangles's picture

Posts: 1367

Date Joined: 17/12/06

buz peanut!!

Wed, 2012-07-11 02:50

 buz yr a peanut!! gd onya moore! i dont care who u are u see a white comn towards u at speed yr gona say ya prays! no wonder the dive community r frowned upon w comments like tht fm buz!! u dnt berley up water so u can play w these monsters and i hold u to tht! if i berley up the water and a white comes round will u jump in the water w no cage!  u peanut!

Buz's picture

Posts: 1555

Date Joined: 28/08/07

Thanks Tangles. Great to see

Sat, 2012-07-14 13:34

Thanks Tangles. Great to see good input.

Actually most the dive community and ALL the dive stores that i have spoken to in Perth DONT want cage diving here in WA. And i can say i have spoken to two dive store owners that would like to see GW's shot because it is affecting their business. So no my comments dont reflect the general diving communities views. Just mine. And my point was more poking jest at Norman Moore not wanting to 'further raise fears in the community' instead of saying he didnt want to increase the possibility and risks of attacks by having cage diving.

So Tangles, considering i never said its was bad, wrong or stupid to ban, just funny his explanation of why he was doing it i will take your insult of 'Peanut' as an honour because it seems that you didnt seem to look deeper into what is actually being said mate.

I am in no way making light of the situation of GW attacks, more Norman Moore's pathetic explanation. And before you go 'bet you wouldnt be like that if you had a relative taken', well i have had a family relative taken and killed by a Great White. But it doenst stop me going into the water or doing my job as a Dive Master.

Rod P's picture

Posts: 725

Date Joined: 20/05/08

I agree we don't need cage

Wed, 2012-07-11 13:06

I agree we don't need cage diving in WA. The biggest issue is there is not one location that is guaranteed to hold GW on so that would mean a huge amount of chumming for them. That is obviously a good thing.

 

The SA crew that run Cage diving adventures will always head to the same spot and always sit with in a 100 mtrs each time. 

Posts: 2319

Date Joined: 03/05/06

a timely conversation

Sat, 2012-07-14 20:04

from a few days ago.

Willlo's picture

Posts: 1490

Date Joined: 07/10/11

The way things are going a

Mon, 2012-07-16 11:20

The way things are going a cage might be the only way to go in the water LOL.

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