CSIRO to investigate rising whale numbers and shark attacks link

Josh Frydenberg has ordered a study into whether an increase in shark attacks is linked to a booming whale population.

Federal Environment Minister Josh Frydenberg. Picture Kym Smith

Federal Environment Minister Josh Frydenberg has ordered an urgent study into whether a ­recent increase in shark attacks is linked to a booming population of whales in Australian waters.

He asked the CSIRO to examine the possible link after a meeting yesterday with close relatives of shark-attack victims Laeticia Brouwer and Ben Gerring in Mandurah, south of Perth.

Laeticia, 17, died in April after she was attacked while surfing near Esperance, off the state’s south coast.

Gerring was fatally attacked in May last year while surfing at Falcon, near Mandurah.

The CSIRO is undertaking a population survey of great white sharks as a possible precursor for the federal government to ­attempt to delist the species as threatened.

Mr Frydenberg told The Australian he left the meeting — which included federal Liberal MP Andrew Hastie and representatives of companies behind shark mitigation technology — determined to push for more ­action to protect human life.

He said Laeticia’s father Leon and Gerring’s brother Ben were both “very keen” for more action and it was “unacceptable” that 15 people had died from shark ­attacks off Western Australia since 2000.

“I’ve spoken to my department since that meeting about the CSIRO study into shark numbers on the west coast and east coast,” he said.

“I want to understand better … what’s happening with whale numbers because I understand whale numbers have increased and the great whites are feeding off the carcasses.

“The feedback from the commercial fishing industry is that great whites are now going right up to their boats and numbers have increased significantly.”

Between May and December, humpback, southern right and blue whales make their way along the WA coast, often coming very close to shore in search of calm and protected waters.

Some believe sharks are being attracted to the coast by the presence of whale blubber.

Mr Frydenberg reiterated his call for the WA government to seek an exemption under federal law to kill sharks through the use of nets or a culling program, or to use smart drumlines.

Except after a fatal shark attack, the McGowan government has so far refused to set smart drumlines for sharks, a practice that is permitted despite the great white shark’s endangered status.

The previous Barnett government was also reluctant to use the drumlines after a trial of a cull that used drumlines in 2014 that was deeply unpopular.

Since the introduction of an imminent threat policy in WA in 2012, shark capture gear has been set in pursuit of a particular shark 11 times. On five of those occasions, the targeted shark was considered a menace but had not attacked.

WA Fisheries Minister Dave Kelly said he had been asking the federal government to research great white numbers off the WA coast ahead of any decision to remove their protected status. “Policy should be based on science, not opinion,” he said.

Since May, surfers and divers in WA have been offered a $200 discount on personal shark deterrents: 512 have taken up the offer.

“Since 2000, 13 of 15 fatal shark attack victims in WA have been surfers or divers,” Mr Kelly said.