An army sniper should be used to stake out a beach in Tasmania's north-west to protect penguins against dog attacks, Greens senator Peter Whish-Wilson says.

Key points: Senator wants unattended dogs on Stanley beach shot

Senator wants unattended dogs on Stanley beach shot Local mayor declares snipers on town boundary "unacceptable"

Local mayor declares snipers on town boundary "unacceptable" RSPCA backs dart guns and education of dog owners

Dogs have been blamed for the recent deaths of 14 little penguins.

Their remains were found at the Stanley penguin viewing area on Sunday night.

Senator Peter Whish-Wilson said it was time to take drastic action.

"It think it is the only thing we can do here," he said.

"Our party has spoken to Parks and Wildlife, [and we need to do] what they did in Sydney and bring in a sniper, bring in an army sniper.

Parks and Wildlife rejects sniper option

Senator Whish-Wilson said dog owners should be warned in a letter drop that their dogs will be shot if found wandering alone on the beach.

"If your dogs are going to be down there, they're going to get shot, this is what we've had to do in other areas," he said.

After initially choosing not to comment on the proposal, a spokeswoman for Tasmania Parks and Wildlife (PWS) came out and rejected the shooting option.

"We aren't considering [Senator Whish-Wilson's] suggestion. PWS will continue to work with the local community and authorities to investigate this attack and identify ways of reducing attacks in the future," she said.

"However, we do remind all dog owners to look after them responsibly and ensure they aren't able to wander without supervision."

Circular Head Mayor Darryl Quilliam said he was doubtful a sniper would ever be stationed on the beach, even if dogs were confirmed to be responsible for the deaths.

"Snipers on the beach in a town boundary I don't think would be acceptable, and I don't think our community would accept that as being a practical solution," he said.

"We'll need to be prosecuting people that aren't looking after their dogs properly.

"It's not acceptable that people leave their dogs roaming around streets."

RSPCA labels sniper proposal 'extreme'

RSPCA chief executive Peter West said the proposal was extreme.

"There's a whole range of areas that we need to be dealing with before we start going down the track of shooting animals," he said.

"We do certainly in some circumstances condone professional shooters being used, especially on pest animals that are wreaking havoc.

"There are other things like dart guns that could be used, there are ways that animals can be sedated and then moved to a different environment, and there's education of the owners."

Tasmanian Senator Jacqui Lambie said there was no need for a sniper.

"We can't even afford to supply our local police officers down here in Tasmania with a Taser gun, so putting a sniper up on the Nut at Stanley is not an option," she said.

"There are much bigger things that need to be spoken about especially when it comes to our dairy farmers."

Maremma puppies bred to protect Victorian penguins

In 2009, the National Parks and Wildlife Service employed marksmen to protect a colony of about 120 of Sydney's little penguins at Manly and North Head, after nine penguins were killed by foxes or dogs.

One of two maremma dogs used to protect penguins on Victoria's Middle Island. ( Warrnambool City Council, file photo: AAP )

Two shooters were employed to help combat the problems there, along with infrared cameras and a fox baiting program.

But not all dogs are a penguin's worst enemy.

In Victoria, a little penguin colony near Warnambool is guarded by a pair of dogs that protect them from foxes.

The Middle Island Maremma Project began in 2006 after foxes caused a sharp decline in the community's little penguin colony.

Maremma puppies were trained and placed on the island off the town's coast to protect the birds from predators during breeding seasons.