Milestone for Western Australia's shark alert system

Western Australia's Shark Monitoring Network is now using new technology to provide alerts on 326 tagged sharks - including a four metre white shark recently tagged by the Western Australian Department of Fisheries research scientists.

The mature male is the largest white shark to be internally fitted with an acoustic transmitter tag in Australian waters.

Western Australia Fisheries Minister Troy Buswell said the shark - measuring four metres from its nose to the tip of its tail - was one of two caught off Albany's Cheynes Beach in August.

The scientists surgically implanted small acoustic transmitters - or tags - in the sharks' stomachs in a quick procedure alongside a boat and then released them.

Minister Buswell said tagging was just one aspect of the Western Government's shark safety program, which was unlike any other in the world.

He added that the monitoring network had been expanded in the past week with the deployment of two satellite-linked shark monitors near Busselton. Six more will be added to the network on the south coast during summer.

The network now uses about 320 receivers positioned in the seabed and 20 satellite receivers to monitor tagged sharks - 136 white sharks, 171 whaler sharks and 19 tiger sharks.

Minister Buswell said the monitoring network had been upgraded with new technology able to faster deliver alerts to safety agencies, as well as the public via Surf Life Saving WA's Twitter feed or website.

The alerts could now be delivered within less than two minutes of a shark being detected by the monitoring network.

Minister Buswell stated "these upgrades mean this summer, response agencies will have even more time to close a beach and alert water users of potential shark hazards, with alerts from receivers being sent faster.

"We want to notify people as quickly as possible when a tagged shark is detected, so beach goers can make informed decisions when using our beautiful beaches.

"The new satellite-linked monitors extend the network to Busselton, one of WA's most popular holiday destinations."

Western Australian Department of Fisheries principal research scientist, Dr Rory McAuley said acoustic tags provided knowledge on sharks, as well as alerts.

Dr McAuley added "these detections and WA's extensive receiver network are contributing to important research to help the Government to better understand the movements of white sharks through WA waters as well as playing a major public safety role.

"The battery life of internal acoustic tags is up to 10 years so the scientific data that may be collected from this shark is unprecedented.

"Placing acoustic tags internally is now a common and incredibly successful technique that has been in use by Australian and international scientists for more than a decade."

Beach goers can find the latest information on any detection alerts at www.beachsafe.org.au

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