Two Shark Warning System
towers, formerly used in the SMART Drumline Trial, which were refurbished and
gifted to the Town of Cottesloe have been operational since the beginning of
the month and are now fully automated and linked to nearby tagged shark
detection receivers.
The automation work,
undertaken by technicians from the Department of Primary Industries and
Regional Development, was carried out last week, which means there are now
twelve automated receivers in Perth and South-West WA.
Now in place at The Cove
and North Cottesloe, the Shark Warning System towers will help alert beachgoers
to the presence of a tagged shark, detected on adjacent Shark Monitoring
Network receivers, which are moored off the coast of Cottesloe and North
Cottesloe.
Under the automation
program, these towers will operate daily from 5am to 7pm.
The
eight other automated beachside Shark Warning System towers are installed at Twilight,
West and Kelp Beds beaches along the Esperance coast, Bunker Bay near
Dunsborough and there are two each at Cowaramup Bay and Lefthanders Surf
Break.
Comments attributed to Fisheries Minister Don Punch:
“Cottesloe Beach is one
of WA’s busiest beaches, featuring a beach enclosure and Surf Life Saving WA patrols
during summer months. The newly-installed Shark Warning System towers will add
another layer of safety for those who enjoy The Cove and North Cottesloe
beaches.
“I congratulate the
Cottesloe Council for taking up the opportunity to install the towers, which provide direct valuable alerts
of shark activity. But remember whenever and wherever you head for the ocean,
remember to switch on your Sea Sense.”
Comments attributed to
Town of Cottesloe Mayor Lorraine Young:
“On behalf of Cottesloe
Council I would like to thank the Department of Primary Industries and Regional
Development and Minister Punch for the donation of the two refurbished Spectur
Shark Warning Systems.
“The valuable addition of
the Shark Warning Systems to Cottesloe complements the Town’s other shark
prevention and response systems of BEN signs, the protected swimming enclosure
and beach patrols.
“We are pleased to be the
first metropolitan local government to install the Spectur units and be in a
position to offer our community and visitors to Cottesloe a combination of
protective devices to allow them to enjoy a relaxing ocean swim or surf (at the
Cove surf break).”
Find out more about Sea Sense at https://www.sharksmart.com.au/staying-safe/sea-sense
Minister's office -or 6552 6900