SHARKS bigger than three metres will be "humanely destroyed" with a firearm and discarded offshore, the tender for the State Government's baited drum line strategy reveals.

Commercial fishermen have until the end of next week to bid for the contract to deploy, manage and maintain up to 72 shark drum lines one kilometre off popular beaches in Perth and the South-West.

An "experienced licensed commercial fishing organisation" is sought for the service, which was announced following the death of surfer Chris Boyd, 35, at Gracetown last month.

The tender request includes new detail about the measure, including:

* Any white shark, tiger shark or bull shark greater than 3m total length caught on the drum lines will be "humanely destroyed";

* Current direction on the humane destruction of large sharks "involves the use of a firearm";

* Any sharks that are dead or destroyed will be tagged and taken offshore (distance to be confirmed) and discarded;

* In the initial stages of the program a number of sharks may be brought to shore;

* All other animals taken on the drum lines will be released alive "where possible";

* Any animals which are dead, or considered not in a condition to survive, are to be humanely destroyed, tagged and taken offshore for disposal;

* Drums will be supplied by the Department of Fisheries, but the bait will be supplied by the fishermen and preferably sourced from shark;

* The drum lines will be patrolled for 12 hours each day, between 6am and 6pm, seven days a week;

* Drum lines will be baited at both the commencement of, and prior to the end of, each patrol day, will all used baits disposed onshore;

* Exemptions from "various state legislation" which prohibit the take, or attempted take, of protected shark species will be provided;

* It is likely a 50m exclusion zone will be implemented around each drum line. Only vessels operated by the contractor will be allowed within the exclusion zone;

The successful firm will also respond to shark threats, including the deployment of additional drum lines within 30 minutes.

The document, issued by the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, says the measure is a "direct response to the unprecedented shark fatalities that have occurred in Western Australia over the last three years".

Shark kill strategy 'disgusting'

Sea Shepherd Australia managing director Jeff Hansen described the measures as "absolutely disgusting" at a time when the rest of the world is moving towards shark conservation.

"I just don't know how the West Australian Government is getting away with what they are doing. We need more legal people to look into this to see how this is legal in this day and age," Mr Hansen said.

University of Western Australia shark biologist Ryan Kemptser, the author of an open letter calling for a rethink on the shark-bait policy, said: "Popular beaches and surf breaks can be protected just as effectively by simply moving sharks alive offshore instead of killing them and then dumping their bodies offshore, which is what the Government proposes to do.

"It would require exactly the same resources but it wouldn't result in killing any sharks, therefore protecting our local ecosystems."

Fisheries Minister Ken Baston today said since 2011 the State Government had invested $5m on taggging, deterrents and other innovations to better understand sharks.

"I agree research is important, however, we have seen seven fatal shark attacks over the past three years and it's time to put human safety first," he said.

"Western Australians who use the water expect the Government to take action to decrease the risk of shark attack at our popular beaches.

"Our new policy of setting drumlines to target sharks deemed a threat at these beaches will be in place very soon. The Government has committed to taking immediate steps, while continuing long term research."

As announced earlier this month, drum lines will be deployed 24 hours a day, initially from January until April.

Firms must demonstrate their vessel, or vessels, which must be at least 12m in length, and equipment, are suitable by addressing specific criteria.

Requirements include holding a firearms licence for a "power head", which is a type of specialised underwater firearm.

The successful company must also be able to store retained catch on board and enclose the rear of the vessel with tarpaulin.

The tender request includes a diagram of the of a baited drum line. While the exact configuration is yet to be confirmed, it shows a pair of polyform buoys attached to a stainless steel hook and a 12kg anchor.

Fishermen must show they have previous experience in supplying similar services, "with particular reference to the handling of large marine animals".

The tender asks companies to demonstrate they can undertake and record basic research, "such as species identification, sexing and size measurement".

"The successful respondent will be required to deploy, manage and maintain drum lines off the Western Australian coast in Marine Monitored Areas (MMAs) in the Metropolitan and South West areas," the document states.

"The services include the management, release of by catch, retention or disposal of the targeted catch and 12 hour patrols of the drum line area. The services will also involve responding to shark threats within MMAs including deployment of additional drum lines."

The Metropolitan MMA will see 36 drum lines deployed one kilometre offshore between Quinns Rock Beach and Warnbro Beach.

The South-West MMA extends from Forrest Beach to Prevelly. In phase one, between January 10 and February 10, 36 drum lines will be deployed between Quindalup Beach and Cape Naturaliste.

In phase two, between February 11 and April 30, the drum lines will be deployed between Cape Naturaliste and Left Handers beach.

Respondents are requested to submit pricing for delivery in either or both of the MMAs. A contract may be awarded to one firm for both MMAs or to separate companies for each MMA.

The tender, entitled "Shark Drum Line Deployment, Management and Associated Services, was posted on the Tenders WA website. The deadline for submissions is 2.30pm on Friday, January 3.