from PerthNow
ANTI-CULL campaigners are threatening to sabotage the Barnett Government’s controversial catch-and-kill shark policy – and say they’re not afraid to break the law.
Western Australians for Shark Conservation has revealed it is preparing to take “direct action” when up to 72 drum lines are deployed next month, despite the possibility of hefty fines or jail terms.
And it is urging West Australians to “take out their boats” and interfere with the $1 million plan to keep beaches safe this summer.
Great white, tiger and bull sharks over 3m long will be shot and dumped at sea under the measure, which will run from January 10 to April 30.
Premier Colin Barnett holding a hook, which is part of the baited drum line that will be used to catch and kill sharks.
The Department of Fisheries warned that anyone interfering could be fined $25,000 and jailed for 12 months.
Despite the threat, WASC and another group, Animal Rescue Team, say they have boats and divers ready to “neutralise” the lines.
“We won’t stand for the culling of endangered sharks off the Western Australian coast,” WASC president Ross Weir said. “We do have members of the public coming forward who are willing to intervene and that includes myself and our crew.
Mr Weir said some WASC members were prepared to break the law and he would make any volunteers aware of the repercussions.
Only fishermen contracted by the State Government will be allowed within a 50m exclusion zone around the drum lines.
But Mr Weir said: “You can only have so many water police in Perth and the water police can only chase so many boats at once, can’t they?
“We will be asking the general public to take their boats and go out there if they believe strongly enough about it.”
Animal Rescue Team spokeswoman Amy Lee said its members would take “non-violent direct action”.
“The only thing I can say is that we won’t be wrecking any equipment. If anything, we will be checking them and quite possibly taking the bait off them,” she said.
Sea Shepherd Australia director Jeff Hansen said his organisation was investigating the legality of the baiting measures, which he described as “absolute insanity”.
Opposition fisheries ¬spokes¬- man Dave Kelly, who plans to speak alongside WASC and Sea Shepherd at an anti-cull rally at Cottesloe Beach next Saturday, would not back direct action. “It’s going to be a dangerous enough operation as it is,” he said.
Fisheries Shark Response Unit spokesman Tony Cappelluti said laws apply for anyone who interferes with lawful fishing activity or with fish or gear.
Under the Fish Resources Management Act 1994, individuals caught interfering with fish or gear can be fined up to $25,000 and could face 12 months jail.
The Greens’ Lynn MacLaren said she understood the frustration of activists, but would not condone direct action that broke the law.
