Premier Colin Barnett defends shark killing PT1M51S http://www.smh.com.au/action/externalEmbeddedPlayer?id=d-2z44e 620 349 December 10, 2013 West Australian Premier Colin Barnett has defended his plan for sharks to be shot and disposed of at sea if they come within one kilometre of the coast. Details of the plan were revealed earlier in the week when the state government posted tender documents online. Two shark kill zones will stretch from Quinns Beach to Warnboro, and Geographe to Margaret River. Mr Barnett joined Fisheries Minister Ken Baston at Trigg Beach on Friday morning to discuss the policy. I realised that many people object to the catching of sharks, the government has taken this measure after long consideration, it wasn't a knee-jerk reaction. We've been looking at this for some time. He said the plan would provide greater protection to beach goers. Department of Premier and Cabinet is calling for tenders from commercial fishers to carry out the management of the drum lines. Photo: Aleisha Orr As part of the plan any great white shark, tiger shark or bull shark greater than three metres caught by fishers in the state government's "kill zones" will be killed. Under the plan, baited lines will be deployed one kilometre off the coast in a bid to catch sharks that near popular beaches and surf breaks. Premier Colin Barnett with one of the hooks used to catch sharks. On Friday, Mr Barnett and Mr Baston announced the locations of eight popular WA beaches where controversial baited drum lines will be deployed. The five Perth areas are Ocean Reef and Mullaloo, Trigg and Scarborough, Floreat and City Beach, Cottesloe and North Cottesloe and Port and Leighton beaches. While, in the South West there will be drum lines set one kilometre offshore at Old Dunsborough beach, Meelup and Castle Rock and at Gracetown. The lines will be set in the next few weeks, costing about $1 million. Mr Barnett said the government worked with Surf Life Saving WA to identify widely used beaches where there have been a 'significant' number of shark sightings. There will be up to 72 drum lines deployed in stages over the January to April period. The Department of Premier and Cabinet is calling for tenders from commercial fishers to carry out the "management, release of by-catch, retention or disposal of the targeted catch and 12 hour patrols of drum line areas." The successful tenderer will be required to deploy baited drum lines and patrol and maintain them for 12 hours each day between 6am and 6pm seven days a week within specified zones. Any sharks meeting the size and species requirements will be shot and "taken offshore" to be discarded. According to the tender documents sharks will be "humanely destroyed" with a "firearm." Other animals will be released alive "where possible." Any animals which are dead, or considered not in a condition to survive, are to be humanely destroyed, tagged and taken offshore for disposal. The tenderer will also be required to act as a "rapid response" unit when required. Tenders close on January 3 and the first phase of the plan is expected to be operational by January 10. While the Premier has been reluctant to call the plan to kill sharks a 'cull' some scientists say that is exactly what it is, WA conservationists claim the move could actually increase the risk of shark attacks and could also harm other animals caught as a by-catch. Synchronised protests against WA's new shark policy are planned across all states and territories on January 4. With Narelle Towie Poll: Will you feel safer swimming at beaches within shark "kill zones" which have baited drum lines set offshore? Yes, I will feel safer No, I will feel less safe I will feel neither more nor less safe Total votes: 136.