SECTION NO: POM 0018 DANGEROUS MARINE CREATURES

SHARK SAFETY PROCEDURE

SHARK CONTROL EQUIPMENT

CROCODILES

MARINE STINGERS

FISHERIES DRAG PERMIT

This guideline provides an overview of the general principles of managing situations involving potentially dangerous marine life.

The following principles are relevant to the management of dangerous marine life:
1) The safety of the bathing public is the foremost consideration in determining management protocols.
2) Notwithstanding this there is necessary to recognise the need to be sensitive to environmental concerns.

Factors to be considered include:

• Beach visitation trends;
• Local aquatic events/activities;
• The history of any incidents; and
• The presence or otherwise of other safety systems.
  

Strategies employed to minimise the risks associated with potentially dangerous marine creatures include:

• Abiding by personal safety rules to reduce risk;
• Monitoring for the presence of potential hazards by lifesaving services;
• The use of barrier systems (i.e. stinger resistant enclosures); and
• Beach closure or activity restrictions to separate patrons from potential hazards