(Transcript from World News Australia Radio)
They've been used for decades in New South Wales and Queensland, but placing baited hooks to catch sharks near Western Australia's coast is creating an uproar in that state, and around the country.
It's part of the West Australian government's so-called shark kill policy response to seven fatal shark attacks in three years.
The policy triggered protests around the nation, the largest being at Perth's iconic Cottesloe Beach.
Ryan Emery reports.
(Sound effects of protest)
More than six thousand people made their feelings known at Cottesloe Beach.
Their protest was one of at least 15 rallies around the state and the nation.
The protestors are angry that the West Australian government has begun killing sharks.
"Today we're coming together doing something. Standing up yelling: 'Not in our name'. Shame Colin, shame. Shame."
The state's Premier, Colin Barnett, has become the target for much of the opposition to the government's shark-kill policy.
Under the plan, certain species of sharks larger than three metres will be killed if they come within one kilometre of the coast in the metropolitan and southwest areas.
Baited hooks have also been placed off the coast of popular Perth beaches and beaches in the state's southwest, a traditional holiday destination for many West Australians.
One of the protesters, Chris Kavazos, says the government should look at other alternatives.
"Well, I'm a scientist and I'd like to see more money invested in funding research so you can understand the behaviour of the sharks. Understand where they're going, what might bring them close to the beach, why they might attack people to begin with and actually find out if they really pose a threat to humans - because I don't believe they do."
The WA government has committed hundreds of thousands of dollars to research, including into shark deterrents and tracking methods.
It's also allocated $1 million to its baiting program.
But after threats were made against the private contractor and the Fisheries Minister, Ken Baston, the baiting program has been run by the Fisheries Department off the metro coast.
However, the same program in the southwest of the state has been awarded to one fisherman who's reportedly being paid more than $500,000 for about four months' work.
Noongar Iva Hayward-Jackson says the sharks must be left alone.
"My ancestors have walked this land and fished this waterway since the beginning of time and it is important for myself and my people make a stand for my brothers and sisters down here today for the protection of all of our sacredness."
Another protestor, Craig Berry, says the decision to place baited hooks one kilometre off the coast is wrong.
"I don't feel it makes our beaches any safer. In fact I feel more threatened by having baited hooks out there when I want to enjoy the ocean. I think a lot of other people feel similarly. I think the number of sightings we have of sharks shouldn't be reported as horror stories, but as the sign of a healthy ecosystem. Most of our interactions with sharks are positive."
Some opponents to the government's policy have vowed to take direct action, and have formed what they're calling a marine response unit.
They claim to have removed baits from the hooks in the southwest, but appear to have taken no other direct action in the metro area.
The state government has warned them they will be fined if they come too close to the hooks and the Fisheries boats that check them.
Other opponents say they are investigating legal action for possible breaches of environmental laws.
