Thank you so much for your support of this campaign. Whilst WA Fisheries are unlikely to ever fully formally back down from this proposal, we have received this good news from them:

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"The Western Australian Government recognises the economic and social effects of shark depredation (bite-offs) on charter, commercial and recreational fishers across WA. The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (Department) researchers recently completed a world-first study that independently tested the efficacy of three different shark deterrent devices. Deterrent devices were effective in reducing fish lost to sharks at popular fishing locations between Exmouth and Montebello Islands by around 65 per cent overall.

The Department is now communicating the outcomes of this study to assist recreational and commercial fishers in minimising shark depredation. WA has always been at the forefront of sustainable fisheries management and plays a leading role in working with other Australian jurisdictions and conservation organisations to ensure the sustainable management of WA’s commercial shark fisheries.

There are no plans by the WA Government to “cull” sharks in the State, or to establish any new dedicated shark fisheries."

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This is not a clean and resounding win in a complex situation, which we will explain below, but your hard work and strong voices have been enough to put the brakes on this dangerous plan. Good work!

They have stated there will be “no new dedicated shark fisheries” (very clear) and no "cull" (somewhat subjective). This does not necessarily mean that they have decided not to allow Gascoyne, Pilbara, and Kimberley fisheries to retain shark catch, to intentionally and systematically reduce populations, as RecFishWest had proposed.

We continue to seek clarity that they will not (now or in the foreseeable future), allow Gascoyne, Pilbara, and Kimberley fisheries to retain shark catch to reduce populations as RecFishWest had originally proposed.

This was never about new shark fisheries, this was about a stealth cull, and they have not fully and unequivocally ruled that out. We will keep pushing for a response. 

Thank you for your support!

IMPORTANT: PLEASE SUPPORT OUR OTHER CAMPAIGN AGAINST SHARK CULLING ON THE EAST COAST OF AUSTRALIA THAT IS ALREADY ACTIVE, HAS BEEN RUNNING SINCE 1937, AND IS SLAUGHTERING WILDLIFE EVERY SINGLE DAY