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Fund cuts threat to shark monitoring network

A central plank of the Barnett Government’s efforts to protect beachgoers from sharks — a “cutting edge” monitoring network — will fall into disrepair within two years after funding for its upkeep was removed.

In a move critics warn could put lives at risk, the Department of Fisheries is understood to have cut funding to service its shark monitoring network to save a few hundred thousand dollars a year.

The network was a key measure of attempts to safeguard swimmers and boost understanding of the State’s great white population.

Sharksmart - See the network in action

More than 200 receivers that can detect tagged sharks make up the network.

About 25 receivers between Perth and Albany are satellite-linked and provide an almost instant alert to the public via the Government’s Sharksmart website and Surf Life Saving WA if a tagged shark passes one.

Since they were installed in 2009, action has been taken hundreds of times to protect swimmers after tagged sharks set off receivers near popular beaches.

First designed for a pilot study into great whites six years ago, the network has been expanded twice at a cost of $2.5 million after a spate of fatal attacks off WA.

Though the department says the network will remain “operational”,The West Australian understands funding for maintenance and to replace receivers ends this month, with no plans to spend more money.

It is believed the cuts will make the network all but redundant within two years because the receivers need regular servicing to work properly and many, including satellite-linked ones, need imminent replacement.

It is understood many specialist staff who operate the network could be axed.

Fisheries Minister Ken Baston confirmed yesterday no new tagging would take place at the State’s expense to help cut Fisheries spending by $5.8 million.

Mr Baston was less forthright about the network’s upkeep, saying only that Fisheries would “still carry out that type of role, continuing to monitor that type of thing”, while declining to say whether jobs would go.

Fisheries executive director of research Rick Fletcher said the network would be “part of normal departmental operating expenses” and tagging would be on an “opportunistic basis”.

However, Dr Fletcher said the receivers were only one source of information for shark notifications.

Opposition Leader Mark McGowan said shark tagging and monitoring was a proved way to make people safer and the move was “inexplicable”.