The Western Australian Fisheries Minister, Don Punch, has greenlit restrictions on shark fishing along all Perth beaches.
The decision comes in response to concerns that shark fishing activities attract these predators to popular swimming areas, potentially endangering beach enthusiasts.
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The ban aims to create a safer environment for the community and uphold local values.
The new regulations, approved by Minister Punch, prohibit the use of wire trace, a key component in catching sharks, within 800 metres of the shoreline at all metropolitan beaches.
“Fishing for large sharks from metropolitan swimming beaches is simply incompatible with community values and community safety,” Minister Punch said.
“This reform is simple, effective, easy to understand, and, most importantly, puts community safety first.”
These restrictions will be implemented starting November 3 and extend to cover the waters from Tim’s Thicket south of Perth to Two Rocks in the north, encompassing the entire Swan-Canning Estuary.
Local recreational angler, Guy Saayman has suggested people who want to go shark fishing, head offshore.
“If you’re going shark fishing, you have to chum up the water with a whole lot of muck, and that attracts them to the beaches, and they hang around.”
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