Environment Minister Greg Hunt has waved through the West Australian government's controversial plan to catch and kill sharks to protect swimmers, exempting it from national environment laws.

In a letter to West Australian Premier Colin Barnett, Mr Hunt says he had deemed the plan should be exempt from the law because it is in the "national interest" of protecting public safety and tourism.

An anti-shark cull message left by protesters on a Perth beach. Credit:Shayne Thomson

The plan was announced by the West Australian government following a series of shark attacks in recent years, most recently the death of a surfer in November who was mauled by a great white shark at Gracetown Beach, 270 kilometres south of Perth.

But it has raised significant anger among conservationists and parts of the community who object to the killing of the native animals in their habitat. Earlier this year 4000 people rallied on Perth's Cottesloe Beach against the plan.