SMART drumlines ineffective in catching White Sharks in the high energy Capes Region of Western Australia: acoustic detections confirm that sharks are not always amenable to capture

Authors

Stephen M. Taylor, Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Western AustraliaFollow
Jason How, Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Western AustraliaFollow
Michael J. Travers, Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Western AustraliaFollow
Stephen J. Newman, Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Western AustraliaFollow
Silas Mountford, Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Western Australia
Daniela Waltrick, Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Western AustraliaFollow
Christopher E. Dowling, Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Western Australia
Ainslie M. Denham, Department of Primary Industries and Regional DevelopmentFollow
Daniel J. Gaughan, Department of Primary Industries and Regional DevelopmentFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

10-20-2022

Journal Title

Biology

ISSN

2079-7737

Keywords

bather protection; shark attack; human–wildlife conflict; power analysis

Disciplines

Aquaculture and Fisheries | Marine Biology

Abstract

The management of human-shark interactions can benefit from the implementation of effective shark hazard mitigation measures. A Shark-Management-Alert-in-Real-Time (SMART) drumline trial in the Capes region of Western Australia was instigated after several serious incidents involving surfers and white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias). The project aimed to determine whether white sharks (target species), which were relocated after capture, remained offshore using satellite and acoustic tagging. Over a 27-month period, 352 fish were caught, 55% of which comprised tiger sharks (Galeocerdo cuvier). Ninety-one percent of animals were released alive in good condition. Only two white sharks were caught; both were relocated ≥ 1 km offshore before release and moved immediately further offshore after capture, remaining predominately in offshore waters for the duration of their 54-day and 186-day tag deployments. Our results confirm that desirable animal welfare outcomes can be achieved using SMART drumlines when response times are minimised. The low target catches and the detection of 24 other tagged white sharks within the study area supported the decision to cease the trial. Our results reiterate there is no simple remedy for dealing with the complexities of shark hazards and reinforce the importance of trialing mitigation measures under local conditions.

Recommended Citation

Taylor, S M, How, J, Travers, M J, Newman, S J, Mountford, S, Waltrick, D, Dowling, C E, Denham, A M, and Gaughan, D J. (2022), SMART drumlines ineffective in catching White Sharks in the high energy Capes Region of Western Australia: acoustic detections confirm that sharks are not always amenable to capture. Biology, 11 (10), 1537.
https://library.dpird.wa.gov.au/fr_fja/127