WA's non-lethal shark drum-line trial is underway, with all 10 smart drum-lines now in the water about 500 metres off the South West coast.

The 15-month trial is dedicated to tagging and relocating great white sharks along 11.5km of coastline from Hangman’s surf break north of Gracetown to Ellensbrook in the south.

"The Government is very keen that this is a scientific trial," Fisheries Minister Dave Kelly said at Cowaramup Bay in Gracetown on Thursday morning.

"We want to know at the end of this trial, does the smart drum-line technology actually reduce the chances of a shark attack?"

"Everybody's got an opinion about this, but we want to be guided by the science."

The victims of fatal shark attacks in Gracetown include surfers Chris Boyd (2013), Kyle Burden (2011) and Nick Edwards (2010) and Brad Smith (2004).

According to the Department of Fisheries, the intent of the trial is not to kill sharks, but to catch, tag, relocate and release the animals one kilometre from shore.

Concerns were raised this morning that the mustad circle hooks, baited with locally sourced salmon and mullet, would attract more sharks to the area the trial is seeking to protect.

But Mr Kelly said the trial was launched to determine whether tagging and relocating sharks would reduce their presence on WA beaches and said if they already knew whether it was going to make shores safer, a scientific trial would be unnecessary.

"We all saw the chaos that surrounded the previous Barnett government's shark cull. We have wanted to avoid that by proper planning, by proper consultation and a real scientific basis and so far we've achieved that," Mr Kelly said.

The first drumline was set at 6:28am, with the second following about 10 minutes later.

The drumlines will be set and retrieved each day during daylight hours and will be monitored while in the water.

Once a shark is caught, contractor Marc Payne's vessel will respond to the alert within 30 minutes.

Surfers and members of the public will be able to see when a shark is caught on the SharkSmart website.

Nine alarms have been installed at local beaches, which will sound a siren and flash lights when a tagged shark is in the area.

"We're now doing more than any other government has done, in addition to things such as aerial patrols and beach patrols," Mr Kelly said.