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

Im not in favour of these drum lines,too indescriminate.
However,something needed to be done.Besides the deaths there are plenty of attacks where people survive.
A good mate of mine has a very good idea why these sharks are increasingly seeking humans in WA.These big white sharks move between South Africa,South Australia and Indonesia.His theory,people smugglers pick up a load of illegals in Indonesia at $10000 US a head,sail part the way throw them overboard and return for another load.As the mythbusters say,plausible.
Andrew

Originally Posted by Discomark

So globally humans kill over 100 million sharks a year to make soup but because they kill a few of us it gives us the right to go hunting and exterminating them in their own environment!
100 million sharks killed each year, say scientists | Environment | theguardian.com
Like others have said it makes us look like real hypocrites when you consider how we criticise the Japs for hunting whales.

That is if the people that oppose to the kill of whales are in favor to kill sharks, which y doubt.
For many years Sea Shepherds opposed to that.
Sea Shepherd Cries Foul Over Western Australia Shark Cull

Australians Oppose Cull of Protected Great White Sharks by Barnett Government

Originally Posted by nugge t

So laying line on 35kms of the 7,500kms of beach in WA is going to wipe out species. Jeez they must be good baits.

no mate, that would just be silly to blame WA's shark cull as being the sole thing responsible for wiping out a species.
But it could be one preventable instance, in a series of events, that could have a huge impact on a delicate ecosystem.

catch and release is always going to be a better option than catch and kill.
here is a quote from one of the previously mentioned links that supports this...

'A different methodological approach to mitigate shark peril off Recife combines bottom longlining and drumlines with comparably better results. This region has been experiencing an abnormally high shark attack rate since 1992, but the protective fishing strategy was developed in 2004 only. Unlike traditional shark control programs, the Shark Monitoring Program of Recife (SMPR) aims at removing dangerous sharks not from their populations but from the hazardous area instead, which is achieved by capturing, transporting and releasing sharks offshore....
...The shark attack rate diminished about 97% while fishing operations were being conducted, whereas no-fishing periods and the period prior to the implementation of the SMPR had similar shark attack rates.'

a new approach to QLD's current methodology could be adopted, and better results may occur. QLD could get lucky and have no deaths in the next fifty years if a catch and release program was adopted. Everyone wins



Also, here is another direct quote from the provided petition. Some of which is Australian research.

'The increase of shark attacks (including those by white sharks) over the last century, are related to human behaviour and not an increase in shark numbers. Increases are very likely a result of human population growth, increased communication of attacks, and more people using the ocean for recreational activities (6,7). They are unlikely caused by rising number of sharks in the area as some of the species implemented in the attacks have declined significantly both locally and globally (8-10).'


What other comment were you unsure of sorry?

Originally Posted by LandyAndy

Im not in favour of these drum lines,too indescriminate.
However,something needed to be done.Besides the deaths there are plenty of attacks where people survive.
A good mate of mine has a very good idea why these sharks are increasingly seeking humans in WA.These big white sharks move between South Africa,South Australia and Indonesia.His theory,people smugglers pick up a load of illegals in Indonesia at $10000 US a head,sail part the way throw them overboard and return for another load.As the mythbusters say,plausible.
Andrew

I do not think that Andrew posted this, someone got his password

I posted it,its a good mate of mines theory.
Who would miss a boatload or 3,they seem to turn up often enough.Good money for the smugglers if it was so.
DONT PAY THE FERRYMAN
Andrew

for those sympathetic to this cause, if you could take two minutes of your evening to sign this petition it would go a long way.

only 2300 more to go until it reaches 75000, then it will be forwarded to the Australian Senate requesting change.

some more interesting facts, which are well supported

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

Only 2299 signatures needed now!!
Peter.