Gregory Mark Sharp to go to trial over allegations he stole great white shark tag and set off hoax warnings

A Kalgan man is set to go trial over allegations he removed a monitoring tag from a great white shark then used it to set off hoax shark warnings around Albany. Gregory Mark Sharp, 48, appeared in Albany Magistrates Court this morning, pleading not guilty to one count of stealing. Mr Sharp, a former commercial fisherman, allegedly stole a $500 acoustic shark monitoring tag in the Manypeaks area on August 12. On October 12, the Advertiser exclusively reported that Mr Sharp was accused of stealing the shark tag then setting off shark alerts. Police allege they found the acoustic tag, which had been fitted to a shark by DPIRD as part of their shark tagging and monitoring program, while executing a search warrant at a property in Kalgan on October 1. Police say Mr Sharp removed the tag from the shark, which he had caught accidentally, before releasing the shark alive. After entering pleas of not guilty in court this morning, Mr Sharp is scheduled to stand trial on March 2 next year. During the trial, the court will hear witness statements from at least two police officers and a DPIRD representative. A 15-minute video of a search of his Kalgan property will also be played to the court. Between August 13 and September 4, police allege Mr Sharp used the tag to activate shark monitoring network receivers in Albany waters on seven occasions. There are 34 acoustic receivers at key locations around WA, providing real-time shark alerts, which are relayed to the public by SharkSmart and Surf Life Saving WA. Sharks are fitted with acoustic tags that emit a sequence of low-frequency “clicks”, which give each tag an audible ID number. These unique signals can be detected and recorded when the shark swims within range of the shark monitoring receivers. Two of the satellite-linked receivers are situated in Albany waters — one at Ellen Cove and one at Frenchman Bay. On August 13, the Albany Advertiser reported that a great white shark had been detected near Middleton Beach, setting off the Ellen Cove receiver at 4.46pm and again at 4.53pm. The Advertiser’s Facebook post reached more than 26,000 people. On September 4, a great white shark was detected by the Ellen Cove receiver at 7.56am. After Mr Sharp was charged, Albany police officer-in-charge Senior Sergeant Hugh Letessier described the alleged behaviour as “irresponsible”. “It leaves an untagged white shark that we know is in waters off Albany,” Sen. Sgt Letessier said. “Also the false alarm causes unnecessary fear to residents and people using the water.” Also in court today, Mr Sharp pleaded guilty to one count of possessing a prohibited drug and one count of possessing drug paraphernalia. On October 1, during the police search of his Kalgan property, police located 3.2g of cannabis on an outside table. A smoking implement with traces of the drug was also seized. Sharp was fined $750 for the two drug offences.