But males cant lay eggs, and they also cant be sold for meat because of their small sizes. [1], Drum lines have been criticized for being environmentally destructive and speciesist, and have sparked public demonstrations and vocal opposition, particularly from environmentalists, animal welfare advocates and ocean activists. Cleaning of garbage and sewage runoff. Should Shark Culling Be Banned? [59] Organisations that support shark control programmes include the Queensland State Government,[41] NSW State Government,[1] Surfing Australia,[60] Surfing NSW,[61] Surf Life Saving Queensland,[62] several politicians within the Liberal National Party of Queensland,[41] the French Overseas Department of Runion,[63] and the KwaZulu-Natal Sharks Board. Their practices show no respect for these beautiful animals at all. As a result, hundreds of professional deer hunters have been employed to help eliminate those with undesirable antlers. Share Envoy: Shark Cull with your family and friends and start a conversation about how we portray sharks and how they need our empathy and . Is the culling of animals, right? Sure, sharks are dangerous and if they get you in their sights, they can destroy you in an instant. They are killed to protect surfers, swimmers and other people engaging in ocean water activities. They have been trialled in Western Australia. In Mauritius, the Mauritius flying fox had been causing great losses to farmers. Acoustic tagging is the primary method used to tag white sharks in Australia. Shark culling is ludicrous, you have more of a chance dying from a coconut falling on you than a shark attack, . This is done by targeting and eliminating animals that are sick or have undesirable characteristics. That list can include any act that further endangers already threatened species, or adversely affects two or more listed threatened species. Unfortunately, of the 172 sharks that were killed, none were white sharks. As a result, they were classified as pests, and the government initiated efforts to cull them. They are fierce creatures, and a lot of people have a genuine and debilitating fear of them. Pollution Types, Shark Nets trap other small creatures as turtles (via Unsplash), The ocean plays an integral role in sustaining our environment and climate, so do sharks and every other creature that lives below the surface. Webbed Gloves Can Help Your Surfing. They are then deprived of oxygen and slowly drown to death or are left to be culled by the authorities. [49] The nets were found to be detrimental to the environment700 non-target species were killed. 21-year-old Sarah Kate Whiley was attacked by as many as three sharks in Rainbow Channel. "[77] Burgess also said shark culling will not make surfers safer. The price of shark culling is too high with other marine life getting caught on the lines 4. 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. When bats are culled in South America to prevent rabies, for example, care must be taken to remove overabundant vampire bats, rather than insectivorous bats that typically do not interact with. The ethics of this practice is a major concern when it comes to the pros and cons of culling animals. There are several creatures, as small as microscopic infectious viruses to as big as hippopotamuses, that had befallen death on our loved one. Black wetsuits have been criticised by some for making swimmers and surfers look like seals. Marketed as 'eco friendly' having become artificial habitats for marine life. The decision was condemned by the environmentalist, conservationist, and native Australians alike, with. East Coast vs West Coast Surfing: Which Is Better? The same happens in North America, where tourists pay as much as 500 dollars to hunt White-tail deer. There has been some hesitancy by people who were keen to put in tenders and some of them have pulled back, he said. This explains why this point could not miss on our list of important pros and cons of culling animals. This number includes sharked culled in the name of protecting humans as well as sharks killed for their fins and cartilage. Physical barriers in dangerous or crowded spots. Also during this period, a total of 15,135 marine animals were killed in the nets, including whales, turtles, rays, dolphins, and dugongs. Both domestic and wild animals can contract diseases when they come into contact with bacteria in soil, plants, or water. PROS: Swimmers and surfers can be warned if a shark is detected close to shore. 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. The impassioned statement for the mass shark cull on Reunion Island coming from such an environmental enthusiast, well-known for clothing brand. Since 2012, Queensland's Shark Control Program has been responsible for 7,504 animals being . This service may include material from Agence France-Presse (AFP), APTN, Reuters, AAP, CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced. [16] Humane Society International calls the nets a "knee-jerk reaction". Whats more, shark nets arent even that effective. They did kill 14 great white sharks as well, but at what cost? In the three decades since nets were installed, there have been no fatal attacks at those beaches and only four resulting in serious injury. The unsuccessful trial in Lennox Head resulted in debris from the half-built barriers polluting the area and the estimated cost of the unsuccessful trial was $2.6 million. [81] Sharksavers estimates that in total 50 million sharks are caught unintentionally each year as bycatch by the commercial fishing industry. [36] Queensland Fisheries Minister John McVeigh has described the longevity of the netting and drum line program as being "a good indicator that it had the support of most Queenslanders". [31] From 2001 to 2018, a total of 10,480 sharks were killed on lethal drum lines in Queensland. But there has to be a plan in place to help achieve desired outcomes and mitigate the risks. PROS: Allows shark movement and behaviour to be monitored and studied, swimmers and surfers can be warned if a shark is detected close to shore. A range of brightly coloured and striped wetsuits are currently being marketed as shark deterring outfits. "Shark culling is a relic of the past. [21], There are also reports of shark attack survivors being harassed and abused on social media, presumably by extreme environmentalists. Most shark nets are deployed in Western Australia, where shark populations are vast and shark attacks are relatively common when compared to other areas. The use of nets and baited drum lines is an outdated and ineffective approach against shark attacks. This leads to an explosion in population because the older ones are not there to chase away or kill the younger ones. (to destroy our oceans), stunned the world. [49], From 1959 to 1976, a government-funded program killed 4,668 sharks in Hawaii. The government came up with a program to combat the disease. Posted on Last updated: November 18, 2022. For example, breeders can invest in technologies that can establish if an embryo is male or female before the eggs hatch. 501(c)(3) Non-Profit, Tax ID#: 82-1646340, The Truth about Shark Culling & the Devastating Environmental Impacts, According to the National Geographic estimates, we have already wiped out 90% of the worlds sharks. "With some species of shark seeing a 90 percent reduction, culling sharks could effectively result in dead zones in the oceans providing. [80] The NSW prawn trawling industry alone results in 64 tonnes of shark as bycatch each year,[64] with two thirds dying. In 2016, the country also announced a decision to cull hippos in Kruger National Park after a drought. And what effect do they have on the marine environment? [23], Following 11 shark attacks along the New South Wales north coast between 2014 and 2016, including two fatalities,[24] shark nets and "smart" drum lines were deployed in December 2016 to cover five additional beaches along the New South Wales North Coast in a six-month trial. "[64] "Similarly, between 1943 and 1951 the South African city of Durban experienced seven fatal attacks but there have been none since nets were introduced in 1952. 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. Author: Nida Riaz The attack occurred in an unpatrolled area. They believe that we should protect the danger and put sharks before humans. These economic considerations of culling animals need to be based on current scientific data. [39][41] Environmental groups criticized the cull; Shark Conservation Australia called the killings a "disgusting knee-jerk reaction" and said it was "a very shameful day here in Australia". As stated earlier, culling should be based on solid facts and a well-thought-out plan of action. We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we live, learn, and work. Mr Barnett says commercial fishermen . 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. "[15], Jane Williamson, an associate professor in marine ecology at Macquarie University, says "There is no scientific support for the concept that culling sharks in a particular area will lead to a decrease in shark attacks and increase ocean safety. . Culling is also done in dairy and beef farming to improve the herd performance and quality of produce. They were first installed in 1935. 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. 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 animals pose a serious threat to or interfere with human activities such as farming, recreation, and even human settlement. These traps are designed to capture bull, tiger, or great white sharks off popular beaches. CONS: Contractor required to check drumlines and relocate the sharks, contractor needs to reach the caught shark in a timely manner, other marine life may be caught. [32] It has been argued that killing sharks in the Great Barrier Reef is "vastly inconsistent with the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority's main objective, 'to provide for the long-term protection and conservation of the environment. [21] Sixty-five percent of shark attacks in New South Wales occurred at netted beaches. "[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]. [18] Between 1950 and 2008, 352 tiger sharks and 577 great white sharks were killed in the nets in New South Wales. Those with undesirable traits are culled, allowing farmers to drive profitability. Wildlife biologists in Tasmania wanted to reduce the population of feral cats. 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