SMART drumline trial begins off Gracetown

The next 15 months will see the drumlines deployed daily, weather permitting, around 500 metres off the coast of Gracetown.

"The government is very keen that this is a scientific trial," Mr Kelly said. "We want to know at the end of this trial - does the SMART drumline technology actually reduce the chances of a shark attack.

"Everyone's got an opinion about this, we want to be guided by the science."

Mr Kelly said a report would be prepared at the conclusion of the trial to ascertain whether the drumlines were an effect shark mitigation measure.

The minister was joined by Surfing WA chief executive Mark Lane and Augusta Margaret River Shire acting chief executive Dale Putland in welcoming the trial.

"Obviously as surfers, encounters with sharks is something we would prefer not to have," said Mr Lane.

"But the fact is that more is getting done today than has historically ever been done, which is great."

The minister said the drumlines would trigger an alert to the Sharksmart website, which would then require someone to contact the relevant person to set off the beach alarm.

He said the technology did not currently exist for the drumline alert to instantly sound the alarm. 

Mr Lane said it was hard to say whether the trial would make every surfer in the water feel safer. 

"Surfers have been really quite positive about it," he said.

"I can't speak for every single surfer but I know from my perspective, yes it would, and from my family's perspective, yes it would."

Mr Putland said the Shire was very happy that the research was being conducted.

"We need to know what the white sharks are doing, and when they are travelling along our coast," he said.

"We've actually had very little feedback of any sort from the community, but what we have had has been very positive, people are happy we are trying to understand the white sharks much better.

"We have been trialling the Spectre system and we had a trial where the alarm went off, we have footage of surfers leaving the water in a very orderly manner and when the all clear was given they returned to the water again. 

"We believe these systems help build confidence and make the beaches much safer."

South West Safe Shark Group's Keith Halnan addressed the media at the Gracetown boat ramp and said while the group welcomed the trial, elements of the research needed further clarification. 

"This is a big day for us, we organised the rally to see these drumlines in the water so we're really appreciative of the government for pushing on with the trial," Mr Halnan said.

"A couple of issues we do have - one of the things was baits, salmon was used a lot in the Barnett trial and that seemed to capture a few tiger sharks and as Dave [Kelly] said, it wasn't the right time of the year.

"We would like to see a range of baits used.

"In South Africa the government used tuna heads and had a very good strike rate with great whites."

He said he would like to see the list of baits being used published frequently along with the shark encounter statistics.

Mr Halnan refuted the minister's claim that there was not suitable technology available to alert water users instantly, citing a Curtin University and Mullaloo Surf Lifesaving Club joint project in which an immediate alarm was set off if a tagged shark approached the beach. 

"It's a proven technology and that was used by the university and the surf lifesaving club for three years."

Monthly catch reports will be made available on the SharkSmart website.