Augusta-Margaret River: Research could be key to shark threat

The comments follow the announcement of nearly $24 million towards the National Environmental Science Program which will look at lowering human-shark encounters last week.

There have been three fatal attacks in Western Australia in the last three years and Ms Sharpe believes that while it is a controversial issue, research and information, rather than fear and hear say is the best way to reduce these numbers.

“Anything that helps to reduce the risk of human death and injury, that is based on a scientific assessment of the facts and good research, rather than emotion and hear say, has got to give us better outcomes, and by us I mean sharks and humans,” Ms Sharpe said.

The program acknowledges that while white sharks are listed as vulnerable under the Environmental Protection Biodiversity Conservation Act, there is still no effective way to gauge their numbers.

The program is set to see scientists develop a national population assessment of white sharks and look at initiatives to mitigate the risk of human-shark encounters.

“This is a step in the right direction, no doubt about it. Let's see how many there are, then look at what might help,” Ms Sharpe said.  

Smiths Beach Surf Lifesaver Keith Warrick believes that while it is a step in the right direction, there is a long way to go before the research benefits can flow down to organisations such as Surf Life Saving.

Mr Warrick said the best anyone can do right now to stay safe is to swim between the flags.

“Swimming between the flags means that there are eyes on the water, which given all that we don’t know about marine creatures and, their movements in the ocean, is by far the safest proposition.”

Whale conservation will also be a focus of the program, with scientists assessing right whale sub-populations to determine trends and current numbers.

Closer to shore, research will support the repair and conservation efforts for threatened near shore marine ecological communities.