The Western Australian shark cull is the common term for a state government policy of capturing and killing large sharks in the vicinity of swimming beaches by use of baited drum lines. The policy was implemented in 2014 to protect human swimmers from shark attack following the deaths of seven people on the Western Australian coastline in the years 2010 to 2013. National public demonstrations opposing the policy attracted international attention to the issue. In September 2014 the seasonal setting of drum lines was abandoned following a recommendation made by the Western Australian Environment Protection Authority. From December 2014 to the present, the special deployment of drum lines is permitted in cases where sharks are deemed to present a serious threat to public safety. This ongoing policy allows the government of Western Australia to kill "high-hazard" sharks it finds to be a threat to humans; this policy has been criticized by senator Rachel Siewart for damaging the environment without any proven benefit to humans.
