Government bans lobster pots for 12 months after shark attacks in Eyre Peninsula

The death of two surfers off the coast of SA has triggered the council to pull lobster pots from the water in a bid to deter sharks from the area.

The use of lobster pots along a popular Eyre Peninsula surf break where a 28-year-old was killed by a shark earlier this year have been banned in an attempt to deter predators.

The Department of Primary Industries and Regions SA has implemented a 12-month trial prohibiting the use of commercial and recreational pots at The Granites, near Streaky Bay.

While the government said there was no evidence it would be effective as shark mitigation, Streaky Bay Mayor Travis Barber said there was strong community support for the move.

It followed the deaths of Lance Appleby, 28, who was killed by a shark at The Granites in January – 14 months after surfer Tod Gendle, 55, suffered the same fate.

Emergency services searching for surfer Lance Appleby, who was taken by a shark in January. Picture: Dean Martin

“The deaths are still very raw in the community,” Mr Barber, a former professional cray fisherman, said.

“It was a huge shock for our community.

“We haven’t had anything like it since abalone diver Terry Manuel was killed in the 70s, so to have two deaths in such a short space of time and a couple at Elliston, really rocked everyone along the coast.”

Surfer Lance Appleby, 28. Picture: Facebook

Tod Gendle. Picture: Supplied by family

The deaths prompted community concerns, including by Mr Appleby’s father, about how activities, such as cray fishing at surf breaks, could be conditioning sharks.

The council and Surf Life Saving South Australia released a report with 28 recommendations to improve shark mitigation, which included community-managed drones for surveillance.

Mr Barber said while measures such as trauma kits and warning signs had been implemented, the ban on pots had been driven by the Mid West Coast Surf Riders Association.

“At the end of the day it’s a 12 month trial – it’s not a silver bullet, but it’s one step and if we can make the beach a little bit safer as a council, that’s our role,” he said.

Mr Barber said the ban would affect about three professional fishermen in the area and only one recreational fisher had approached the council to voice his objection.

Lobster nets have been banned for 12 months at The Granites, near Streaky Bay.

The state government met with Streaky Bay representatives in May regarding its shark mitigation package. Picture: Dean Martin

The Mid West Coast Surf Riders Association president Tobin Woolford said as they were “directly impacted by shark attacks” they supported the ban of baits used for crayfishing in the same vicinity as swimmers, surfers and beach users.

Primary Industries Minister Clare Scriven said there was no evidence the move would be effective, but the measure was being taken out of respect for the community.

“I visited Streaky Bay in the weeks that followed the tragic loss of surfer Lance Appleby and the community sentiment about the immediate area around Granites was understandably very strong,” Ms Scriven said.

“We have taken this measure out of respect and recognition of the tragedy that occurred.”

The lobster pot ban was not being considered for any other area.

The government, in November, announced a $500,000 package for SLSSA to install trauma kits, signs and shark warning systems at high risk coastal areas.

Originally published as Government bans lobster pots for 12 months after shark attacks in Eyre Peninsula