The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development’s shark tagging research program is to be extended to include bull sharks and monitoring in the Swan Canning Estuary.
According to the Department, the program currently focuses on white sharks which present the greatest risk in southern waters.
So far in fact, the Department has tagged 163 white sharks with 10 tagged this season as part of its Shark Monitoring Network.
The extension follows testing by the Department which confirmed the presence of bull shark DNA as part of the investigation into the fatal mauling of 16-year-old Stella Berry last month in the Swan River at North Fremantle. The test results have been provided to the Coroner’s Office for its report.
In a statement, the Department said it would work with the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions to build on its current research program that includes tagging and tracking movements of juvenile bull sharks in the Swan Canning Estuary.
“Tagging of adult and juvenile bull sharks will operate in the summer and autumn periods,” the statement said.
“The Department will also investigate the use of three new acoustic shark monitoring receivers in the river, which will connect to the existing network, providing near real-time notifications of tagged shark activity.”
Minister for Fisheries, Don Punch said the Department had not previously tagged any bull sharks.
“We know that bull sharks are capable of living in both marine and fresh water and, they give birth in estuaries and river mouths during the warmer summer and early autumn months,” Mr Punch said.
“It is important to gain a better understanding of shark movements and numbers in the Swan Canning Estuary, while also providing useful information to inform the State’s shark hazard mitigation efforts.”
