New decision for shark kill policy

Western Australia's shark kill policy has already claimed dozens of tiger sharks. Photo / Getty Images

Western Australia's controversial shark kill policy will not be probed by the state's Environmental Protection Authority.

Despite more than 20,000 submissions during the consultation period in February, EPA chairman Paul Vogel said he would not be fully assessing the policy because it was unlikely to have a significant environmental impact.

"This is not a public opinion poll,'' Dr Vogel told ABC radio.

"It is a very limited duration, and very small-scale proposal until April 30. The risk assessment we got said there was a negligible risk to target and non-target species of sharks."

The decision means the WA drumlines will now stay in place until the end of next month - with Premier Colin Barnett keen to reprise the policy next summer.

However, Dr Vogel said there was no carte-blanche clearance for the policy next year before he sees a proposal.

"I need to see where they intend to do it (next year), and how they intend to do it,'' Dr Vogel said.

Late last month, Sea Shepherd failed in its bid to secure a court injunction to force the WA government to suspend its controversial baited drumline policy.

The marine activists launched the fast-tracked legal challenge in a bid to have dozens of baited drumlines off Perth and the South West region removed.

The policy to kill any great white, tiger or bull shark bigger than three metres spotted in surfing and swimming hotspots was allowed by federal environment minister Greg Hunt.

He granted WA an exemption under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, allowing the protected species to be killed until the end of the trial on April 30.

Lawyers for Sea Shepherd had argued the exemptions to state laws were not published properly.

Dozens of tiger sharks - but no great whites - have been caught by the hooks.

Photos of bleeding and already dead sharks sparked outrage among conservationists, and thousands of protesters attended rallies against the policy around the country.

- AAP