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WA Greens lash out at EPA for not investigating shark drum lines WA Greens lash out at EPA for not investigating shark drum lines
(about 1 hour later)
The Western Australian Greens have criticised the state’s Environment Protection Authority (EPA) after it said it would not assess the environmental impact of using drum lines to cull sharks.The Western Australian Greens have criticised the state’s Environment Protection Authority (EPA) after it said it would not assess the environmental impact of using drum lines to cull sharks.
EPA chairman Paul Vogel told ABC radio on Wednesday morning that the authority would not investigate the 72 drum lines placed on the WA coast by the Barnett government early this year because the environmental impact would be “negligible”.EPA chairman Paul Vogel told ABC radio on Wednesday morning that the authority would not investigate the 72 drum lines placed on the WA coast by the Barnett government early this year because the environmental impact would be “negligible”.
This was despite the EPA receiving 23,000 submissions during a public consultation period that closed last month.This was despite the EPA receiving 23,000 submissions during a public consultation period that closed last month.
Late last year the Barnett government introduced a strategy which allowed hunters to kill three-metre sharks one kilometre offshore.Late last year the Barnett government introduced a strategy which allowed hunters to kill three-metre sharks one kilometre offshore.
“The test is whether this proposal is likely to cause a significant impact on the environment,” Vogel said. “The proposal is of very limited duration and of very, very small scale, and our advice is that this proposal will not have a significant impact on the environment.”“The test is whether this proposal is likely to cause a significant impact on the environment,” Vogel said. “The proposal is of very limited duration and of very, very small scale, and our advice is that this proposal will not have a significant impact on the environment.”
Vogel said that of the 104 sharks caught so far, 101 were tiger sharks.Vogel said that of the 104 sharks caught so far, 101 were tiger sharks.
South metropolitan Greens MP Lynn MacLaren said the EPA’s refusal to assess the drum lines was “an outrageous affront to tens of thousands of Western Australians”.South metropolitan Greens MP Lynn MacLaren said the EPA’s refusal to assess the drum lines was “an outrageous affront to tens of thousands of Western Australians”.
She called on the Barnett government to intervene and make the EPA assess the environmental impact of the drum lines immediately.She called on the Barnett government to intervene and make the EPA assess the environmental impact of the drum lines immediately.
“Every man and his dog know that these drum lines are proposed to be a regular feature off popular beaches, and almost certainly off south-west beaches,” she said.“Every man and his dog know that these drum lines are proposed to be a regular feature off popular beaches, and almost certainly off south-west beaches,” she said.
“The EPA has unfortunately been blinded by the premier’s stated intention that the drum lines will be out on 30 April.”“The EPA has unfortunately been blinded by the premier’s stated intention that the drum lines will be out on 30 April.”
MacLaren said the premier and fisheries department planned to use drum lines each year and she feared the local shark population would plummet.MacLaren said the premier and fisheries department planned to use drum lines each year and she feared the local shark population would plummet.
“If the premier instates the drumlines in brief and frequent stints over a long time frame, does he forever avoid an environmental assessment of this barbaric policy?” she asked.“If the premier instates the drumlines in brief and frequent stints over a long time frame, does he forever avoid an environmental assessment of this barbaric policy?” she asked.
“Today I call on environment minister Albert Jacob as a matter of urgency to request a strategic review from the EPA so that this can be properly assessed.”“Today I call on environment minister Albert Jacob as a matter of urgency to request a strategic review from the EPA so that this can be properly assessed.”
Barnett said his controversial policy might have to go back before the EPA if it continued next year.
“That may be the case,” he said.
He said the drum lines were about public safety.
“As I have said on a number of occasions, the employment of drum lines has been done exactly by the book,” he said.
“It has been effective and we have gone through all the necessary processes with the commonwealth.
“A significant number of very large sharks have been caught in both the south-west and along Perth beaches.”