Thread: Aus Day 2014 - WA off to a bad start... Shark cull

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https://www.change.org/petitions/the...in-australia-2


Hi all,
Bit of a rough start to Australia Day over in WA with a tiger shark being the first victim of the states backwards shark culling policy.
(Drum lines catch first shark - Yahoo!7)


Some interesting facts about the shark culling policy.

- 'National interest' prevents Western Australia's Shark Cull laws from being reviewed in accordance with our National Environment Law.
This 'National interest' that they are talking about is revenue raised from tourism.
It is a show of pure ignorance on behalf of WA's Premier Colin Barnett to promote these laws, but an even bigger let down that our Federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt has granted an exemption for these laws.

(No Cookies | Perth Now)



- Back in 2011 125+ scientists and shark experts, plus 17,000 members of the general public signed a petition against similar policy and it was abandoned. This year 100+ scientists and shark experts put forward a non lethal way of dealing with the shark issue, and 30,000+ people signed a petition opposing the shark cull policy but it still went ahead
WTF Colin Barnett!! I feel its a sad state of affairs when government, elected by the people, do not listen to the people when they speak loud and clear too them.

(100+ Shark Experts Oppose WA Shark Cull Policy In Open Letter)

- Shark attacks have increased in WA over the last few years Greg Hunt states. He says that this is due to shark numbers increasing. How about we look at the other side of the coin, are sharks coming closer to land in the search of food due to our (the worlds) current overfishing techniques.
Just do some research on overfishing, and the decrease of fish numbers world wide. Your mind will melt.



Now dont get me wrong, any loss of human life is tragic.
And measures must be taken to minimize the chance of this happening.
But if these measures are at the expense of our delicate eco-system, they are not acceptable.

I have spent the last 20+ years surfing in South Australia, and in some pretty sharky locations (far west coast, YP, tunks etc. some with white pointer breeding grounds in close proximity). And I have seen sharks in the water too. But this is a risk I am willing to take.

People swim, surf and generally hang out in the ocean for leisure type activities. Leisure being defined as the use of free time to do something, i.e not a necessity.
For sharks the ocean is their home, if they attack it is because you look like a food source in the home environment. They are simply acting on instinct, they are not making a conscious decision to attack you.

If a sharks were to ringing doorbells in the local neighborhood, and then attacking people when they answered their doors, I would fully support a shark culling policy, for the sharks who are on land.


Honestly, I am ashamed to live in a country where this is allowed in 2014.
It is a complete show of ignorance by WA's Premier Colin Barnett and our Federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt. And the audacity that is shown by Colin Barnett by simply ignoring the mass protests... Honestly, I feel we'd be better off baiting and culling some of our current pollies with what has been happening in Australia in the last six months



If you feel the same way, there will be National Protests held around Australia, and even in NZ on Feb 1 2014.
Check out the flyer if you are interested in attending, the more the merrier.
I simply cant just sit by and allow this to happen!


***sorry for the long post, end rant****

Originally Posted by redrovertdi

This makes us look just as bad as the japs killing whales and dolphins.......

we better stop culling roos and rabbits as well