Navy
was considering a trial of the Shark Shield divers’ safety device,
but no decision had yet been taken, the acting Chief Staff, Maritime
Headquarters, CDRE Kevin Taylor, said last week.
MCDFEG was considering the merits of Shark Shield and contemplating
a trial regime but this should be construed as an intention to
proceed, he said.
The trial process was robust and required very careful consideration
of all factors, most importantly safety, but also the environment
and the Navy’s reputation.
“I most strongly assure you that whatever form the trial may take,
if indeed it proceeds at all, it will absolutely have no intention
or requirement to lure or attract sharks.
CDRE Taylor said he had a particular concern with the statement
in the Navy News article last month, Jaws of Life, that “members
of the team have to wait until weather conditions are right to
attract sharks so they can test the equipment in the wild”.
This was completely inaccurate, he said.
There was no possibility of Defence activities attracting sharks
into waterways used by the public and there need be no environmental
concerns over interaction with sharks and or other marine life.
