THE lifesaving anti-shark drum lines installed in the state’s north to protect swimmers and surfers from great whites and other known predators may have been deliberately sabotaged.

Despite seven shark ­attacks and dozens of close calls between Byron Bay and Evans Head, authorities are concerned drum lines may have been de-baited, potentially putting lives at risk.

Two days after Premier Mike Baird visited the region to inspect the drum lines being baited with fish, green group Sea Shepherd was involved in a stand-off with NSW Fisheries and police.

One of Sea Shepherd’s crews, operating as part of the group’s “shark defence campaign”, yesterday denied tampering with the drum lines.

The Daily Telegraph can reveal a commercial fisherman and off-duty RMS boat informed fisheries officials about a boat near a “smart” drum line off Ballina.

At 7.45am, the same time the boat was seen, scientists monitoring Catch-A-Live GPS technology received an alert from the drum line.

On inspection, there was no damage to the baited hook, no shark smell and no bait left on the hook, which is considered unusual.

Expert advice said it was “highly likely” the drum line was tampered with.

Under state law, anyone proven to have interfered with set fishing gear faces a maximum penalty of $5500.

A NSW Police spokesman said they were contacted by Ballina Fisheries about a “suspicious vessel” in the vicinity of drum lines off Lighthouse and Flat Rock beaches. Two were understood to have had their fish baits removed.

“Police spoke to a male and two females who were with a rigid inflatable boat at a boat ramp,” he said.

The Sea Shepherd crew, including marine scientist Jann Gilbert, shark attack survivor Kylie Maguire and teacher Jonathan Clark, yesterday “monitored” drum lines off Ballina beaches.

“NSW Fisheries made a complaint about the crew being there and the police were called,” the Sea Shepherd Facebook page posted.

“The crew were questioned by police. The crew did nothing illegal or wrong. Yet based on no evidence, Fisheries alleged that our crew de-baited the hooks.

“We look forward to ­receiving an apology.”

Sea Shepherd warned Fisheries officers to “get used to eyes being on the water and the smart drum lines being monitored”.

Police said no further ­action was expected to be taken against the crew.

The Daily Telegraph ­understands compliance boats will be dispatched to monitor the drum lines.

Sea Shepherd, which ­receives tax breaks as a registered charity, supported protest action against the drum line program adopted by the WA government.

NSW Primary Industries Minister Niall Blair said the government was committed to drum lines, and vandals faced criminal penalties.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/sharks-drum-lines-may-have-been-sabota...

I thought this would be about the greens and their anti fire control stance.

That kills people every year

Maybe they should chain themselves to the nets in protest like they do the coal loaders?

I'm sure the harmless white pointers won't mind a bit of company...

...afterall they have to eat their greens to stay regular 

Oh god have some compassion for the white pointers

Its time wrote on Dec 24^th, 2015 at 7:16am:


Why are you encouraging these imbeciles?

Out of the 170 odd sharks caught on drum lines not one was a white shark , which is thought to be the species responsible for the fatalities here . How many species were shot in the head indiscriminately is anyones guess, its no suprise the policy was panned and subsequently shelved after 3 months.

Armchair_Politician wrote on Dec 24^th, 2015 at 7:04am:


It would be kinda awesome if one of them got attacked by a shark.

Quote:



Please go swimming with the sharks. You would finally do something useful for society.