Western Australia: Funding for innovative shark deterrents
Media Release
Department of Fisheries, Western Australia
Thursday 25 October 2012
SHARC calls for shark deterrent research
- State Government provides $2million for research to help keep beachgoers safe
- Holistic approach being taken to tackle current situation at swimming beaches
- Shark Hazard Advisory Research Committee established to assess applications
Science and Innovation Minister John Day today called for submissions for applied research into shark deterrents.
Mr Day said the State Government had established the Shark Hazard Advisory Research Committee (SHARC) and that $2million was now available to encourage and support research into the development of innovations aimed at protecting the State’s beachgoers.
“Sharks have become a greater risk to the community and the Liberal-National Government is initiating numerous strategies – as part of a holistic approach – aimed at reducing this risk at the State’s popular swimming beaches,” he said.
“Innovative research that could potentially assist in reducing the risk of shark attacks is currently being undertaken in the community – the funding will enable this research to progress at a faster pace to ensure innovations are developed now so as to help provide more protection for beachgoers.
“SHARC will be led by WA’s Chief Scientist, Professor Lyn Beazley, and is responsible for assessing all applications received under this program.
“This funding complements the activities under the $6.85million package announced last month.”
Grants of up to $300,000 over a period of up to three years will be open to Western Australian-based organisations, including universities, research institutes, industry, and not-for-profit organisations; it is anticipated this research will be well under way by the end of the year.
The committee comprises Peter Millington, CEO, Chemcentre; Dr Rick Fletcher, head of research, Department of Fisheries; Michele Clement, director, Innovative Science, Department of Commerce; and Chris Peck, community safety manager, Surf Life Saving Western Australia.
The Minister said Western Australia’s beaches are important to the fabric of WA’s culture and the State Government was doing everything possible to ensure these areas were kept safe.
Fact File
- Applied Research Program funding currently open. Closes 4pm, November 21
- First of a number of rounds to be opened
- More information: http://www.commerce.wa.gov.au/innovationdevelopmentschemes
Source: Department of Fisheries, Western Australia
This is good news. Thanks to state government for more sensible approach to this problem.
I noticed, reading the application that this is only limited to WA based organizations. I think this should be expended to other countries as well. There are a lot of private companies that did massive research on this subject. If you limit the funding to WA based organizations , you loose the cahnce to reach and use their research and experience. There is no point in spending the money on a study that is already done. If the expected end result is to make something that really works, this should be an international call. Otherwise, it will give the government the dealing hand, ” We spent x million of dollars in researh and could not find a solution” Everyone needs to understand that this is not a local political problem but a global one. We all need sensible and humane solutions that will protect the sharks and humans at the same time. I personally don’t care from where or which company or organization the solution comes from as long as it works. The WA government should think the same way. As long as it saves the life of beachgoers and surfers, they should avoid where this solution is made or discovered.