Dive Pacific Iss 171 Oct- Nov 2019

GEARBAG
West Australia invests $1 million in personal shark deterrent subsidies
The West Australian Government has announced an
additional 1,000 subsidies for Ocean Guardian’s shark
deterrent devices. Resident local surfers and divers there
have been taking up a government subsidy programme
in big numbers - the increase brings the total cost to the
government up to $1 million.
The subsidy programme, the first of its kind in the world,
has so far paid out 3,800 rebates to local surfer and divers
worth $200 each. The only devices qualifying must be
scientifically proven and the only ones that meet that
criteria are Ocean Guardian’s FREEDOM+ Surf (Bundle) and
the Ocean Guardian FREEDOM7.
With the $200 Government rebate, the surf bundle is $299
and the dive device $399 available through the programme
from a registered retailer.
Both devices are shown to significantly reduce the risk of a
negative interaction with great whites and other sharks.
The Shark Shield Technology also prevents the unnecessary
killing of sharks by environmentally fatal shark nets,
drum-lines and shark culling. It works by generating a
three-dimensional electrical field which causes spasms in
the sensitive receptors of sharks’ snouts, with no known
harmful effects to the sharks or to humans.
www.ocean-guardian.com
...reducing shark tax
Ocean Guardian launched their new FISH01
at a recent Sydney International Boat Show. Its
developed for the fishing industry to improve
catch rates by reducing ‘shark tax.’ That is, it helps
avoid sharks taking the catch.
The FISH01 has between 10-12 hours of battery
life, delivers a protective field up to 15m deep and
6m wide, at a maximum depth of 200m.
www.ocean-guardian.com RRP $2,999.
New community funded rescue vessel ready for the Gulf
Auckland Coastguard has
worked for two years to get the
funding and commission its
latest rescue boat Trillian Trust
Rescue.
Designed by Naiad Boats and
built in New Zealand by Alloy
Cats the new 15m rescue boat
extends the range from North
Cape through to East Cape and
the ability to engage in overnight
and extended search and rescue
operations.
Significant grants from
Trillian Trust, Lion Foundation,
Foundation North, the Lotteries
Grants Board and Kelliher
Charitable Trust along with
funding from Coastguard, made it
possible.
The Trillian Trust Rescue complements
the existing Lion Foundation
Rescue, a 15m semi-foiling
catamaran, and Trillian Rescue
Alpha, a 9.5m fast response vessel.
Based at Mechanics Bay, Auckland
Coastguard comprises 150 volunteers
staffing 24 hours a day, 365
days a year. Over the previous
12 months they attended 430
incidents from mechanical
difficulties to search-and-rescue
emergencies.
The new purpose built rescue
vessel features include:
• 700hp Scania inboard diesel
engines
• Fuel range of 200 nautical miles
• A fully integrated Simrad navigation
suite including a Radio
Direction Finder and a Thermal
Search Camera
• Full first aid and resuscitation
equipment
48 Dive New Zealand | Dive Pacific