Overhaul 'feeble shark policy'
An experienced WA shark fisherman has criticised the Barnett Government's shark policy as feeble and called for an overhaul if it wants the plan to be effective.
Wayne McKenzie-Brown, a shark fisherman in the 80s and 90s before switching to coral farming, said he strongly supported plans to catch and kill big sharks but felt the plans had significant shortcomings.
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Mr McKenzie-Brown, who claims to have caught thousands of big sharks off Gascoyne, said the contracts for setting drum lines under the policy were too proscriptive.
He said this would inhibit the contractor's ability to catch sharks and counter the aim of safeguarding beach users.
He was particularly critical of the requirement for lines to be set 1km offshore, saying it was too close to catch many sharks.
He also queried why specialist shark fishermen had not been sought for the work.
Regarding Government claims the policy would cost $1 million, he said it was likely to be twice as much because two boats would be needed for each zone in Perth and the South West rather than one as the Government planned.
