2017-11-07
- The WA Government created a $200 rebate for personal shark deterrents in May 2017.
- The rebate is only currently available for the Shark Shield FREEDOM 7™, a deterrent suitable for use by divers, spear fishers and kayakers. This device was previously verified as effective at deterring great white sharks in trials conducted by University of WA that were funded by the Barnett Government.
- Of the 650 people who had applied for the rebate by 28/9/2017, less than 7 per cent were aged under 25 years, prompting the Greens to seek young ocean-users’ feedback.
- NSW Government-funded trials of surfing-specific devices are currently being carried out by Flinders University off the Neptune Islands including WA product Rpela (SurfSafe)
- Shark Shield has commissioned Flinders University to also test Shark Shield’s Freedom+ Surf surfing-specific deterrent off the Neptune Islands with white sharks.
Following a campaign to seek feedback from young ocean users, Greens MLC Diane Evers has thrown her support behind scientific trials of surfing-specific personal shark deterrents, with a view to the being included in a Government rebate scheme if they are proven effective at deterring great white sharks.
“I reached out to the public to ask why young people who are big participants in ocean sports showed such low uptake for the rebate, and the responses have primarily been along two lines: low awareness of the rebate and of how personal shark deterrents make you safer; and the fact that the rebate only applies to a device not suitable for surfing,” said Ms Evers, who is the WA Greens’ Marine Spokesperson.
“Other responses were the cost of buying a deterrent and potential discomfort or inconvenience using a deterrent.
“There are two surfing-specific personal shark deterrents on the market – SurfSafe’s ‘Rpela’ which is housed in the surfboard and Shark Shield’s ‘Freedom+ Surf’ which straps onto its tail; both retail for less than Shark Shield’s diving and kayaking-specific deterrent.
“The Greens are keen to see the rebate scheme extended to both of these products as soon as possible, provided trials currently underway by Flinders University off the Neptune Islands in South Australia prove they both are effective at deterring great white sharks.
“The deterrents work by emitting a small electrical field around the diver or surfer. This field hurts the shark when delicate sensory organs on the shark’s nose come within it.
“Some people doubt if this is enough protect them; yet that is why testing is being done with multiple large great white sharks in highly chummed and bloodied water to see the extent that the electrical field deters them.
“There is nothing that can completely eliminate risk if you go in the ocean. Yet just as a seatbelt improves your safety significantly, so will wearing an independently tested and verified personal shark deterrent.
“We recommend that people also assess risk before going in the ocean by checking for recent shark activity in their location at www.sharksmart.com.au and considering whether there are food sources such as seasonal fish aggregations that might have attracted sharks.
“Noting that our feedback showed there was a low level awareness about the rebate, we recommend that once the rebate is extended to a surfing-specific device, the Government, perhaps with help from sports organisations, does more to promote the rebate to appropriate user groups and young people.
“It is great to see two products from WA on the market for surfers: ‘Rpela’ and the ‘Freedom+ Surf’ have slightly different features and will appeal to different customers.
“Both makers say that as uptake increases, their manufacturing costs and therefore retail prices will drop. I look forward to properly tested and proven personal shark deterrents being affordable to people of all ages and income who use the ocean.”