The WA Government says an extra $17 million dollars will be spent on the state’s Shark Hazard Mitigation Strategy to provide frontline safety and first response measures. 

The funding, which was announced as part of the 2024-25 State Budget, includes investment for helicopter patrols, integrated communication systems, and frontline safety services such as a jet ski response team and the shark tracking app.

Since 2000, WA has had 20 fatal shark attacks, which accounts for 15 per cent of shark-related deaths globally.

In the past month, a 17-year-old boy was severely injured by a shark when surfing at a popular surfing spot near Exmouth.

In a statement, Fisheries Minister Don Punch says the mitigation program will be extended for the next four years.

Marine Scientist Natalie Travaglione says the risk of sharks to swimmers and surfers depends on how remote the location is.

“If you are a surfer in the Perth metropolitan area, it is very unlikely that you are going to have a shark encounter. As you move into more remote locations, your risk increases as it becomes much harder to get help from emergency services.”

Ms Travaglione says the funding increase is a great way to raise public awareness about shark safety. 

“It’s good to see the government working to employ more non-invasive methods of promoting safety in the ocean, such as the helicopters and shark tracking apps,” she says.

“Non-invasive methods keep our sharks and marine life safe, but also give people peace of mind when in the water.”

One of the programs receiving more than $12 million is the Surf Life Saving WA Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter Service, which patrols WA’s coastline to spot sharks in the water and provide emergency response assistance.

SLSWA operates two helicopters each year between September and April, one in the Perth metropolitan area and the other in the south west. The service has been operating from Perth since 2008 and Busselton since 2013.

According to SLSWA, between 2022 and 2023 the helicopters undertook 745 patrols, reporting 675 shark sightings and evacuating more than 4,000 people from the water. 

Ms Travaglione says the helicopters are effective at providing first responses to incidents but are not usually able to spot sharks unless the weather conditions are perfect. 

“Surf Life Saving helicopters are really only effective at spotting sharks when the water is flat on a clear day. On an overcast day, it is very difficult for those helicopters to actually spot a shark in the water,” she says.

“Helicopters and patrols have communication and radios that can get help for people who need it as first responders. Unless the weather is perfect, there’s a slim chance that these patrols can prevent a shark incident from happening, but they can be very effective in responding to any injuries that happen in the water.”

She also says beach-goers should be aware of peak periods for shark activity.

“At certain times of the year we are more likely to have sharks near our coast. For example, when great white sharks migrate through the WA coastline between September and December during snapper season, and in March for the salmon season,” she says.

“At these times, you usually see young sharks that don’t have as much experience in identifying what their prey is yet, and that’s when you’re more likely to see encounters happen when these young sharks mistake a swimmer for a fish.

“If people are more aware of these migration patterns, it would help people to understand the risk that they are taking when they go into the water.”

Avid swimmer Keith Solly says these safety measures help to keep people safe in the ocean.

“I’m down at the ocean every morning because it’s a part of my morning routine,” he says.

“The fear of sharks definitely crosses my mind sometimes, especially when we’ve had a few sightings.

“I’ve always felt pretty safe with all of the initiatives though.”