Shark alarms to be installed at South West beaches

The Spectur alarm uses lights, sirens and audio broadcasts to alert beachgoers of sharks in the area. PIC: Seven News

The State Government has purchased shark alarms which will be installed during the SMART drumline trial in the South West.

Nine shark alarms that use lights, sirens and audio broadcasts will be installed at main surf breaks in Gracetown, to alert people if a shark is caught on a drumline or a tagged shark is detected.

The new alarms will be installed this week at surf breaks - Gallows, Guillotines, Cobblestones, The Womb, Ellensbrook, South Point and North Point - and two alarms will be installed at Lefthanders.

Fisheries Minister Dave Kelly said the safety of surfers and swimmers is a top priority. 

"We want to keep beachgoers safe and immediately alert them to shark activity in the area," he said.

"This shark alarm technology has been developed by a WA company, and I'm pleased we are able to incorporate this local innovation as part of our trial.  

"The new solar-powered alarms can be triggered remotely, making the local alert process faster and informing those already in the water.

"The SMART drumline technology is satellite-linked and when the non-lethal drumlines are activated, a message is sent to activate the relevant Spectur alarm."

240 seabed monitors are also being deployed that will gather data on tagged shark movements.

The seabed monitors, known as VR2 receivers, collect fine-scale movement data from tagged sharks, and are being placed around the trial zone and along surf breaks from Cape Naturaliste to Margaret River.

More from Local News

Fuel Watch
  • 179.9: Ampol Foodary Falcon (Miami Beach)
  • 179.9: EG Ampol Falcon
  • 183.9: Ampol Foodary North Yunderup
  • 184.9: Ampol Foodary Lakelands
  • 185.9: 7-Eleven Greenfields