A proposed Bill to regulate shark cage diving has been lodged by Invercargill MP Sarah Dowie, which intends to address "the risk that is posed by shark cage diving that is carried out in close proximity to beaches".
Ms Dowie, who is National's conservation spokesperson, said risk is increased due to "to the nature of competing activities in coastal waters in the Stewart Island area, where shark cage diving is currently carried out".
"Something needs to be done to ensure that consideration of public safety surrounding shark cage diving activities is paramount."
The Bill would create conditions to grant permits of where the shark cage diving could operate, "as well as minimum distances of operation from specified locations such as beaches".
"It would also provide the means to ensure that the people operating the cages work in a way that poses no threat to sharks, while also mitigating the clear threat to the safety of the public using the sea for work or recreation," Ms Dowie said.
Andria Scott of Shark Dive NZ said: "Great White sharks have been protected internationally and in NZ since 2007 with the intention of prohibiting fishing and increasing shark numbers."
"Sharks are free to swim where they will and tend to aggregate around seal colonies so therefore shark cage diving is undertaken where the sharks are already aggregating - not just at Stewart Island but other shark hotspots around the world. Shark cage diving offers the public a safe way to observe sharks in their own environment while also providing a platform for education."
"It would be much better to undertake a coherent law reform of the Wildlife Act, Marine Mammals Act and other related legislation to bring it all up to date."
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