Hundreds of the world's top marine scientists have called for Western Australia to ditch its shark cull policy, arguing there is no evidence that it makes beaches safer, a report said Friday.
The controversial catch and kill policy was introduced as a trial this year around popular west coast beaches following a spate of fatal attacks.
More than 170 sharks, mostly tiger sharks, were caught during the 13-week summer season, with 50 of the biggest ones destroyed.
The state government has applied to national authorities to extend the policy, putting 72 baited hooks attached to floating drums one kilometer (around half a mile) off the busiest beaches between November and April until 2017.
The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) is assessing the proposal, which has angered conservationists who say it flies in the face of international obligations to protect the great white shark.
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation said it had obtained a submission to the EPA from more than 250 of the world's leading marine biologists and researchers who said there was little science to back the policy.
Tiger sharks were not thought to be responsible for the six fatal attacks off Australia in the last two years, with great whites blamed. No great whites were caught in the trial.
The state government has said its policy -- which is based on the use of drum lines in Queensland, where there has been only one fatal attack at a beach using the baited hooks or nets since 1961 -- had restored confidence among beachgoers.
However, the ABC said Western Australia Fisheries Minister Ken Baston was unable to point to any studies about the efficacy of drum lines.
Submissions to the EPA are due to close on Monday.
PHOTO: A tiger shark is caught off Moses Rock in Western Australia, in this photo by Sea Shepherd Australia on February 22, 2014 (AFP Photo/Sea Shepherd Australia Ltd)