The death of the first shark under the West Australian government's controversial culling programme has sparked outrage on social media.
A fisherman contracted by the West Australian government to set and monitor baited drum lines one kilometre off beaches in the South West region was reportedly seen off Meelup beach, near Dunsborough on Sunday morning shooting a large shark.
The shark had been caught in the drum lines, which were set up on Saturday afternoon, and was then towed further out to sea.
"So sad", "disgrace" and "shame", many wrote on social media.
Others commented that it was awful news on Australia Day, while West Australia Premier Colin Barnett was heckled at a citizenship ceremony in Wanneroo.
Sea Shepherd's Jeff Hansen said the shark was "believed to be a beautiful tiger shark" more than three metres long.
The controversial programme went ahead after federal environment minister Greg Hunt granted West Australia an exemption under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, allowing the protected great white shark to be killed.
In a notice to mariners warning of navigational hazards, the West Australia government said drum lines would soon be deployed in metropolitan waters, extending from Quinns Rock Beach to Warnbro beach.
AAP reports it has been forced to rope in its own Department of Fisheries officers to do the work after commercial operators pulled out following threats from activists.
