Minister renews great white protection
Protection for great white sharks as a rare species under threat of extinction in WA has been renewed under State law as debate rages over how to deal with the State's shark threat.
Environment Minister Albert Jacob yesterday defended his decision to renew the great white shark's status as a species needing special protection under WA's Wildlife Conservation Act.
Details of the decision come after Saturday's fatal shark attack at Gracetown, which prompted Premier Colin Barnett to flag relaxing shark protection laws and warn the State Government was constrained by Federal law protecting sharks.
Mr Jacob said the great white's protection status was renewed in September as part of a general review of threatened fauna and flora.
"My decision is based on advice from the department, which uses internationally accepted criteria for the classification of threatened species," he said.
"Expert advice is provided through the Threatened Species Scientific Committee."
The committee is an eight-member panel set up by the Federal Government to advise on threatened species.
Fisheries Minister Troy Buswell said this week that a review was under way into the Government's shark hazard policy.
