Culling is the only solution: surfer
A veteran surfer who tried to help 2010 shark attack victim Nick Edwards says culling sharks is the "only solution" to better protect ocean users and human life should be "the number one priority".
Mat Manners, a surfboard maker based in Margaret River, said the State Government's drum line trial last summer was a "bit of a joke" because it ran over summer when shark sightings were rare. But he suggested there was merit behind the measure.
Under a planned extension of the shark catch-and-kill trial, drum lines were to be set off Perth and South West beaches between November 15 and April 30 for the next three years.
However, those plans were shelved last week after being knocked back by WA's environment watchdog.
PREMIER RIGHT TO KILL SHARKS: IAN CAMPBELL | END TO DRUM LINES 'NO SURPRISE' | FULL COVERAGE
Mr Manners, who was involved in efforts to save father-of-two Mr Edwards when he was attacked by a great white shark while surfing at Gracetown on August 19, 2010, said he had noticed a sharp increase in shark activity in recent years.
He said he feared it would only be a matter of time before someone else was attacked, particularly in winter or spring when great white shark numbers were higher off the South West.
"I think the only solution would be bringing the numbers down," he said.
"Unfortunately the community doesn't think like that, but these people don't use the water."
Yallingup Board Riders Club president Todd Taylor agreed that the planned drum line time frame would have missed the most dangerous times of the year for surfers.
Mr Taylor said the Government would be better off using the money it would have spent on the drum line program to boost monitoring and surveillance off South West beaches.
