Great white protection challenged

The officials have questioned whether banning the killing of great white sharks is still appropriate, after the deaths of five people in incidents with great whites off Western Australia in the past year.

The sharks have been legally protected since 1999. However, in the aftermath of the most recent fatal attack which occurred in mid-July, Norman Moore, Western Australia’s Minister of Fisheries, said:

"I think we need to have another look to see whether there's been a significant increase in great white numbers since they became protected. And if that's the case, should they still be on a protected list?"

The Western Australia Department of Fisheries has held discussions also with Commonwealth officials. The great white is fully protected in Australia’s Commonwealth waters, under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

Full protection applies under other statutes off Tasmania, South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland.

Conservationists have made clear their objection to any proposal to lift the fishing bans. Even if numbers have increased, it is argued, it would only be to a naturally healthy level after years of depletion.

The creature’s presence at the top of the food chain is important and, if left alone, its populations would adjust naturally in its relationships with other species.

"Australia has an immense moral and legal responsibility to protect great white sharks in our waters," said Alexia Wellbelove, of Humane Society International.

One problem lies in getting accurate information on great white populations, rather than relying on anecdotal evidence. Prof John Pandolfi, of the University of Queensland, said: 

"Trying to find them is like looking for a needle in a haystack, because they roam across such large distances and don't necessarily hang out in groups.”

Research by Pandolfi has confirmed that there are two sub-species of great whites, one on Australia’s east coast and the other in southern and western waters.