The City of Wanneroo has no plans to bring forward the installation of its shark barrier at Quinns Beach by a few weeks this summer, despite the recent fatal attack at Sorrento Beach.
A city spokesperson said the Global Marine Enclosures product was planned to be re-installed between October 12 and 16 and removed in April before winter.
A GME spokesperson confirmed the 300m wide enclosure would go in just north of the Mindarie Surf Life Saving Club in that week subject to weather conditions.
The City of Wanneroo said there were “currently no plans” for additional shark barriers at other city beaches.
Fisheries Minister Jackie Jarvis said any decision about the return of a swimming enclosure at Sorrento Beach in the City of Joondalup would be made with the council and Sorrento Surf Life Saving Club.
“Over the weekend, I met with members of Sorrento Surf Life Saving Club to check in with them following what has been an incredibly difficult time for the community,” Ms Jarvis said in a statement to the Northern Suburbs Weekly.
“I invited the mayor of Joondalup and Member for Hillarys Caitlin Collins as a courtesy.
“It was an important opportunity to hear directly from club members; thank them for their efforts and acknowledge the vital role they play in keeping our community safe.
Camera IconThe City of Wanneroo has reinstalled its shark barrier at Quinns Beach for the summer season. Justin Benson-Cooper Credit: Justin Benson-Cooper/The West Australian
“We are working closely with Surf Life Saving WA on ways we can build on our existing shark mitigation measures and further strengthen safety along our coastline.
“That includes looking at new technology, additional surveillance and other practical measures that could improve our response and give people greater confidence when they head to the beach.
“Any decision about beach enclosures would be made in partnership with the club and the City of Joondalup.”
Swimmers and fishers at Quinns Beach this week welcomed the reintroduction of the shark barrier later this month.
Ben Dale and Kate Bernaldo have swum in previous summers inside the Quinns barrier, which they said brought peace of mind.
“We’ve just had a quick dip today, not too deep,” Mr Dale said.
Alex Petrides, of Merriwa, was fishing for tailor from the shore.
He supported the safety measure at Quinns “because there’s so many sharks”.
“All my life I’ve lived near the ocean; all the way down City Beach, Cottesloe is where I grew up,” he said.
“And every day I swim down the beach for about six, seven months a year.
“Ever since I started fishing – and I’ve accidentally caught a shark and seen how agile they really are and how many there are around – I’m sh*ting myself every time I go in the water now.
“And having kids and having a shark barrier at our local beach is such peace of mind.”
Camera IconAlex Petrides fishing at Quinns Beach. Credit: Justin Bianchini
The Quinns Beach shark barrier extends 85m offshore and first went in the water in January 2017.
GME says it is an eco-friendly alternative to shark nets and is designed to not entrap marine life.
“In fact, no bycatch has ever been recorded in any of our enclosures,” GME says.
“The barrier is installed in the summer months and removed over the winter period in line with our monitoring and maintenance procedures.”
In solidarity with Sorrento, Mullaloo volunteer surf lifesavers also took to their beach on the weekend a week ahead of patrol season.
“In light of the recent event at Sorrento, in solidarity and to provide reassurance to the community through this safety measure, we too, are going hold patrols from 8am to 11am this long weekend,” the club said.
“It is times like this where we can band together and proudly provide support and safety to our community.”