WA's shark cull ends, but may return

Baited drumlines that have caught more than 100 sharks off the West Australian coast are being pulled from the water with the conclusion of the state government's culling trial.

Data from the Department of Fisheries for the period from January 25 to March 16 shows 31 sharks were killed while a further 14 were found dead on hooks, including two mako sharks.

The vast majority of those caught were tiger sharks, but a blacktip and dusky whaler were also caught and released alive.

No great white sharks, which are responsible for most fatal attacks on humans, were caught.

While the controversial catch-and-kill policy targeted great white, bull and tiger sharks bigger than three metres, all but two of those that were found dead on hooks were smaller, including the makos, which measured only 1.7m and 2m.

Earlier this month, the state government applied to the commonwealth to continue the program for three more years.

That would see up to 72 baited drumlines set one kilometre off the metropolitan and southwest coast between November 15 and April 30, starting this year, and would be reviewed in 2017.

Last week, WA's Environmental Protection Authority opened a four-week public submission period on the planned extension, despite declining to formally assess the trial program even though a record number of public submissions - more than 23,000 - had been received.

The new proposal was also referred to the Commonwealth Department of the Environment, with a decision about whether it will undertake a separate assessment expected next month.