Second shark device added to WA subsidy

WA's government has added a second shark deterrent device to a subsidy program after the product was found to reduce the risk of an interaction by 60 per cent.

A second shark deterrent device has been added to the West Australian government's subsidy program hours after Fisheries Minister Dave Kelly denied staging a political stunt over the issue.

A further $200,000 has been added to the program to provide 1000 Surf+ devices for surfboards, after the product was university tested off the Neptune Islands in South Australia.

Researchers found the device reduced the risk of a shark interaction by at least 60 per cent, even in chummed and baited waters.

WA's last fatal shark attack victim was 17-year-old Laeticia Brouwer, who was bitten on the leg while surfing last year with her dad at Esperance.

Her parents, Julie and Leon Brouwer, on Wednesday backed the technology along with other strategies such as increased surveillance and awareness.

"There are a range of other management options that the surfing community would also like to see taken up by government, and are being discussed further but will take time to progress," they said in a statement.

Hours before Mr Kelly added the Surf+ device to the program, he called on the NSW government to release the report into its effectiveness, but denied he was playing politics.

It came after the NSW government - allegedly at the request of two WA Liberals - used a front-page newspaper article to offer WA some SMART drumlines.

The WA Liberals have continued to push for SMART drumlines, but Mr Kelly has repeatedly said he wants to wait until the trial is complete in NSW before making a decision.

NSW Primary Industries Minister Niall Blair said on Wednesday the SMART drumlines data was updated monthly.

"We brought that technology across from Reunion Island, we got our scientists to refine the technology for our conditions and now we're having them in the water," he said.

"That's how you work out if something works."

Mr Blair said anyone who wanted to play politics was "heading down a path of failure".

WA's famed Margaret River Pro competition was cancelled last month after two recreational surfers were separately attacked nearby.

Alejandro Travaglini, 37, was mauled at Cobblestones beach in Gracetown and hours later Jason Longgrass, 41, was bitten on the leg at Lefthanders break.


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Source: AAP



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