Shark devices pose threat to boats: Sea Shepherd

So-called ‘smart drum lines’ in Ballina and Byron Bay could be a threat to boaties, the Sea Shepherd Australia group has claimed.

The marine conservation group has criticised the New South Wales Government for keeping the location of the drum lines a secret.

National Shark Campaign coordinator for Sea Shepherd Australia Natalie Banks said even Marine Rescue Ballina had not been informed of their positions and therefore could not inform boaties of the navigational hazard.

‘It is absolutely ludicrous to have new bouys and lines in the water and just expect boaties to avoid them when they accidentally come upon them,’ Ms Banks said.

‘The New South Wales Government is putting the lives of boaties at risk, which could see a lot of mariners up in arms about the lack of information regarding these navigational hazards.’

NSW Premier Mike Baird and Department of Primary Industries Niall Blair visited Ballina this week to inspect the drum lines, and to discuss ways to prevent further shark encounters alone the coastline.

But the pair came in for criticism that the NSW government has not acted quickly enough.

The smart drum lines feature an alarm which allows hooked sharks to be tagged and towed away.

Mr Baird and Mr Blair inspected a smart drum line during their visit, as well as new listening stations installed recently at Ballina.

The two listening stations have been placed at Sharpes Beach at Ballina and Clarkes Beach at Byron Bay to monitor sharks that have been tagged.

The information from the listening stations will be tweeted so the public can monitor information before entering the water.

But the location of the drum lines is being kept a secret, and proposed eco-barriers will not be installed until February.