CONS: Nets float above the sea floor and are placed in sections, so do not provide an enclosed area or barrier between people and sharks. Speaking of numbers for the, 962 till 2018, Queensland authorities have killed. They confuse humans for defenseless animals (which, arguably, we are in the eyes of a shark), and most of the time, they dont really care what were doing. Use of colored and striped swimwear and equipment. They use baited hooks to lure and trap the animals, not unlike fishing lines. Therefore, many governments started culling them. THE ABC reports that commercial fishermen in Western Australia are hesitant to tender for work on the states controversial shark cull because of concerns for their safety. In spite of such efforts no significant decrease in . Long term shark control programs using shark nets and/or drum lines have been very successful at reducing the incidence of shark attacks at the beaches where they are installed. What Is Shark Culling? As stated earlier, culling should be based on solid facts and a well-thought-out plan of action. Its a knee-jerk reactionpeople get bitten, people die, the government starts killing sharks. Those cattle that are considered to have defects are usually identified and killed. They did kill 14 great white sharks as well, but at what cost? sharks, causes a . Surfer Mick Fanning changed the colour of his board from yellow to dark blue after hearing sharks were attracted to lightly coloured, shiny things. Some of the methods used to kill sharks include: On the surface, a shark net sounds like a pretty humane way to trap and release a shark, but shark nets are designed to kill. One such shark culling program, billed as a shark control program, in Hawaii which operated between 1959 and 1976 resulted in killing 4,668 sharks over an 18-year period. The nets are submerged near high-population areas and are designed to trap, entangle, and kill the shark. Such ecological changes have indirect adverse effects on carbon cycling and, in the longer run, affect our ability to reduce climate change impacts. You can be a voice for sharks and other marine life by signing the petition to end 84 years of shark culling, remove the nets and drum lines and opt for more non-lethal alternatives to shark mitigation. [note 1][66][67], In 2017 the Queensland Government stated that "Current evidence indicates traditional capture methods (ie Shark nets and Drum lines) remain the most effective measures to reduce the risk of shark attack". Intensively farmed animals like poultry and pigs also play a big role in the growth of virulent diseases like swine flu and avian influenza (H5N1). A smart drum line is based on the traditional drumline design, but includes technology that can alert rangers to the capture of marine life and they can then attend the device if sea conditions permit. Shark sightings and reports from the public as well as from government and emergency services are recorded, with alerts sent out to user's smart phones and via social media. This led to the termination of the three-year program afteronly three months. Since 2012, Queensland's Shark Control Program has been responsible for 7,504 animals being . The disappearance of scallops and clams in the restaurants is an indicator of the declining shark population. Without this, it is estimated that the number of elephants would have increased to 80,000 by 2020, leading to mass starvation of both the elephants and other animals. Predators as Prey: Why Healthy Oceans Need Sharks, , highlights why we need to protect sharks. The giant nets are also problematic because other small creatures get trapped and are then killed. From 1959 to 1976, the state of Hawaii culled 4,668 sharks (at an average cost of $182 per shark), including 554 tiger sharks, in a series of shark control programs. CONS: Traditional drumlines are designed to kill sharks. "[34], In 2017, "Humane Society International applied for lethal shark control programs in New South Wales and Queensland to be listed as key threatening processes under the federal Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act [of Australia]. He adds:" killing endangered species to boost public confidence or to show government action is not workable. It is estimated that up to 100 million sharks are caught globally each year. [1] Shark culling has been criticized by environmentalists, conservationists and animal welfare advocatesthey say killing sharks harms the marine ecosystem and is unethical. The culling of ferrets led to a doubling of their population. These diseases are highly infectious and fatal for both animals and humans. Alerts from surf safeguards and lifeguards in case of danger/threat. PROS: An electrical repellent known as the 'shark shield' has been independently shown to be effective at deterring sharks from biting, most of the time. The state government decided to spray pesticides targeting those mosquitoes that bite humans at night. [22][21][11][39][40][70][71][72][73], The Sea Shepherd group said, "Politicians responsible for the shark cull policy have displayed an unwillingness to explore other shark mitigation strategies". The New South Wales Government believes shark nets are worth trialling and plans to install shark nets in a trial off the north coast before the end of the year. . We need to protect sharks to protect our environment. Not only do the methods trap and harm other marine animals, but by removing large numbers of major predators, they create a knock-on effect that impacts all marine life. This number includes sharked culled in the name of protecting humans as well as sharks killed for their fins and cartilage. [12] During the same 30-year period, 2,211 turtles, 8,448 rays, and 2,310 dolphins were killed. Many tourists are willing to pay thousands of dollars to go on hunting expeditions aimed at culling animals. People think sharks are vicious beast that mean to eat and kill humans but they have benefits that the whole world uses everyday! 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"[1][65] A more recent analysis highlighted that there were three shark attacks, none fatal, at KwaZulu-Natal's "controlled" beaches between 1990 and 2011, while at unprotected beaches nearby there were 20 fatal attacks in the same period. The 199798 outbreak of the Nipah virus in Malaysia, for example, claimed the lives of over a hundred pig farmers. The feral cats of Tasmania are a case in point. This helps to strengthen the gene pool of animals because only the fittest animals are allowed to survive. Marketed as 'eco friendly' having become artificial habitats for marine life. There has been some hesitancy by people who were keen to put in tenders and some of them have pulled back, he said. . As a result, they were classified as pests, and the government initiated efforts to cull them. As a keystone species, sharks are important for maintaining the delicate balance in the aquatic ecosystem. [18] Shark experts and conservationists also say there is no evidence that drum lines prevent shark attacks. Environmentalists have proposed the banning of shark culling and the use of drum lines because they are threats to endangered species. As a result, the government started culling them. The traps with a baited hook that are used to attract and snare sharks instead trap them on the ocean floor, leaving them unable to swim. "Sharks keep oceans and reefs healthy," Banks said. Put simply, shark culling is a deliberate government action to kill and reduce the numbers of sharks in our oceans, which is usually an unthoughtful, knee-jerk reaction to a shark attack. For example, breeders can invest in technologies that can establish if an embryo is male or female before the eggs hatch. East Coast vs West Coast Surfing: Which Is Better? CONS: No more swimming/surfing/kayaking etc. Unfortunately, our government authorities aren't marine ecology experts and don't always understand the impacts of such a decision. Even if an animal is released, it may not survive. For example, between 1967 and 1994, South Africa culled a total of 14,562 elephants. Without culling, all or most of them would have died of starvation. "[43], In a 30-year period, more than 33,000 sharks have been killed in KwaZulu-Natal's shark-killing program. The Grom Life participates in affiliate advertising programs designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to products. The WA State Government has issued a tender for professional fishers to catch and kill all white, bull and tiger sharks more than three metres long in certain areas along the state's coast. [11] In the first 11 months of 2013, 633 sharks were captured in Queenslandmore than 95% of those sharks were killed. The deer population in the UK is also managed through culling. In fact, removing the apex predator from the ocean can have negative effects on the marine habitat at large, not to mention the unintended killing of other marine species which are also critical to the health of the oceans. This should serve as a warning to those culling elephants. It was later discovered that the flying fox was the chief agent of pollination for more than half of the islands plant life. The same was observed in ferrets on a British island. Endangered Species in California You Need to Know, 18 Best Greenhouse Accessories | Must-Haves in 2023, Copyright OurEndangedWorld | All Rights Reserved, Environmental Organizations in The Philippines, Environmental Organizations in North America, Environmental Organizations in South America, Best Energy-Efficient Electric Fireplaces, animals is driven by public hysteria and arbitrary reasons, 10 Impactful Ways to Conserve Coral Reefs. Will smart drum lines actually prevent shark attacks? The sharks' rights are enshrined in our law. Given the legal status sharks enjoy, the benefits to humans would have to be especially high to justify culling as an ethical option. Human Evolution In Nature This means they have to be culled. Intentionally reducing the number of sharks have more negative effects on the ocean than we can comprehend. Protecting humans from sharks: What are the options? "[12], The prevalence of shark attacks at Runion Islandthere were 19 attacks between 2011 and 2016, including seven which were fatalprompted Runion island's government to carry out a range of systematic long term activities utilising "smart" drumlines and longlines. There also economic benefits of culling domestic animals, especially in commercial farming. [2][3][4][5][6][7] Government officials often cite public safety (attempting to reduce the risk of shark attacks) as a reason for culling. [80] Australia's commercial shark fishing industry catches over 1200 tonnes of shark each year,[64] 130 of which being great white sharks. This is evident in the poultry industry, where almost half of the chickens that hatch are usually male. The following was said about Queensland's use of lethal drum lines: "Lethal drum lines in Queensland are used to catch and kill sharks. The WA State Government has issued a tender for professional fishers to catch and kill all white, bull and tiger sharks more than three metres long in certain areas along the states coast. The efficiency of the shark nets and drum lines as deterrents is also questionable. Sure, sharks are dangerous and if they get you in their sights, they can destroy you in an instant. To 100 million sharks are dangerous and if they get you in their sights, they destroy. 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