MLC moots eco-friendly shark barriers
In a move against the State Government's shark kill policy, South Metropolitan MLC Phil Edman voiced his concerns in Parliament last week, suggesting environmentally friendly shark barriers would be a better alternative.
"What I'm in support of is alternative measures to make our beaches safer for WA people," he said.
"I'm worried killing great white sharks on drum lines will give a false sense of security and I would (pre- fer) to see a barrier at Palm Beach."
Mr Edman said it would cost about $700,000 to erect eco-barriers at the State's most popular beaches, which he believed was a more cost-effective system to protect swimmers than the drum lines.
"The only shark on record for causing a fatality has been great whites, and so far we haven't caught one," he said.
South Metro Greens MLC Lynn MacLaren was pleased to hear the Liberal backbencher speak out against the cull and agreed the shark-proof swimming enclosures were a better alternative.
