South Australian Government to offer longer licences for shark cage diving operators

Shark cage diving ventures operating out of Port Lincoln in South Australia are to be offered longer licences by the South Australian Government.

The plan to offer the three currently licensed operators 10-year tenures rather than five aims to boost their tourism ventures.

Explaining the move, South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill said getting face-to-face with great white sharks had become a significant tourist drawcard for the state, as there had been 30%  growth over the past three years.

Premier Weatherill told the ABC "the shark cage diving industry sustains 70 jobs, many of them from the local community, and last year generated more than $11 million for the state's economy.”

Premier Weatherill said the longer licences would encourage operators to invest more in their businesses so more tourists would be able to enjoy the excitement.

He added "there couldn't be a more dramatic cut-through product than a white pointer coming up and sticking its nose right in your face.

"That's what people from around the world are excited about, it's that experiential tourism which really captures their imagination."

The licences also deal with issues such as berleying to attract the sharks and the number of days when diving is allowed.

South Australian Environment Minister Ian Hunter said a review of licences and their conditions two years ago considered the impact of shark cage diving on the great whites, concluding "importantly, shark cage diving takes place in some of the state's newly-created marine park sanctuary zones, demonstrating that tourism and ecosystem protection can co-exist.”

Image courtesy of Shark Cage Diving