WA great white population could be 10,000, not 1,500, says fisheries expert
A retired WA fisheries scientist warns the state's great white shark population could reach 10,000, far higher than earlier estimates.
A 2018 CSIRO study estimated about 1,500 adult great whites near WA's southern-west coast. Including young sharks, the total could reach about 10,000.
Jim Penn is a retired WA fisheries scientist with over 40 years of experience in stock assessment. Jim Penn thinks the population has grown a lot since white sharks got full Federal protection in 1997.
Penn wants an independent study to get accurate numbers. The new estimate matters because current shark management plans may be based on wrong data.
WA had three fatal shark attacks this year. The new figures raise fresh concerns.
- 1,500
- CSIRO adult population estimate
- 10,000
- Potential total with juveniles
- 40+
- Years of Penn's experience
- 1997
- Federal protection started
Why it mattersAccurate shark numbers are needed to design good safety plans. These plans should protect beachgoers without using guesswork.
AustraliaChanges how WA manages shark risk along its coast and could alter decisions about beach safety measures and tourism.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 10 h ago
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