Cleaning of garbage and sewage runoff. Avoid surfing at dusk, or alone, or in the most dangerous spots with murky water. Between 2017 and 2018, it was reported that 403 marine animals were killed by the use of shark nets. This is not about public safety, rather it's a blatant tactic to reduce public scrutiny by a government under increased public pressure to end its archaic culling program. 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. PROS: Statistics support their efficacy, with one fatality at a netted beach between Newcastle and Wollongong in the past 70 years and an overall drop in shark interactions with humans since nets were installed around Sydney and Queensland. Dr Daniel Bucher from Southern Cross University told the ABC: "Great whites are a threatened species and the existing population is already low. Should Shark Culling Be Banned? Sparrows helped to regulate the population of locusts and other insect pests in rural China. campaign that killed over 50 sharks in three months bred no reductions in shark bites. [11][21][22] They say there is no science showing that nets make the ocean safer for people. [21], The current net program in New South Wales has been called "outdated and ineffective",[18] and has been criticized by environmentalists, who say nets harm the marine ecosystem. PROS: Statistics support the efficacy of drumlines in reducing shark attacks. We should always establish both the pros and cons of culling animals before imposing any culling measures on any species. Anthrax, for example, is spread by domestic and wild animals. A range of commercial products that claim to deter sharks from humans are available. They are used throughout Western Australia where they are typically fixed at a depth of about 6 meters and run just under 200 meters long. [10], Shark culling mainly occurs in four locations: New South Wales, Queensland, KwaZulu-Natal and Runion. Across the Pacific Islands, sharks hold important cultural value. Marketers of a range of the products claim on their websites to have tested their efficacy, however the results range from working "some of the time" to "only on particular sharks" or "temporarily". Those with undesirable traits are culled, allowing farmers to drive profitability. Speaking of numbers for the, 962 till 2018, Queensland authorities have killed. [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". 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 Dorsal App claims to be Australia's largest shark alerts and reporting service. They also scavenge, clearing the water of decomposing debris. the effectiveness of SMART drumlines were in question, Is Deep Blue The Largest Great White Shark, Sharks and Surfers: Risks, Tips, and More, Yum Yum Yellow, Surfing, Surfboards & Sharks, The Best Surfing Movies From The 80s, 90s & 2000s. People think sharks are vicious beast that mean to eat and kill humans but they have benefits that the whole world uses everyday! What are the pros and cons of culling animals? 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). Maybe we should have a cull on mattress stores. Achieving a Sustainable Population The culling of animals is also beneficial in helping to maintain the sustainability of the ecosystem. However, the brutal way in which they are killed certainly needs to be rechecked. [4] The "imminent threat" policy was canceled in March 2017. This means they have to be culled. Here, culling is done based on factors affecting cow performance, such as milk production, reproductive status, and diseases. It is estimated that up to 100 million sharks are caught globally each year. [57] In January 2019 the Environmental Protection Authority of Western Australia determined that the "SMART" drumline trial would have minimal impact on the environment.[58]. [37] However, a 2014 poll indicated that 80% of Australians did not approve of shark culling in Australia. Lifetime cow studies were conducted at a USDA experiment station in Montana. CONS: Reports can not be received in the water, possibility of hoax reports, impossible to report every shark. As a keystone species, sharks are important for maintaining the delicate balance in the aquatic ecosystem. As a result, hundreds of professional deer hunters have been employed to help eliminate those with undesirable antlers. [9][8] The Queensland Government states that the purpose of the program is to "reduce the possibility of shark attacks on humans in coastal waters of the state adjacent to popular coastal beaches used for bathing" and "is committed to maintaining this important safety initiative". Stanley Heritage Cooler Combo Competition, Mulloway released into Sydneys Georges River, Dean Butler inducted into IGFA Hall of Fame, Calls to include fish, crustaceans and cephalopods to South Australian Animal Welfare Act, Calls to include fish, crustaceans and cephalopods. Unfortunately, of the 172 sharks that were killed, none were white sharks. Of these animals, 7 were dolphins, 7 were green sea turtles, and 10 were grey nurse sharks, which are critically endangered. In total, more than 8,000 marine species with some level of protection status have been caught by the Queensland Shark Control Program, including 719 loggerhead turtles, 442 manta rays and 33 critically endangered hawksbill turtles. Those with undesirable traits are culled, allowing farmers to drive profitability. Before culling is done, it is important to consider the economic benefits of the exercise. [11][12][13][14], Carl Meyer, a researcher at the Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, calls the disagreements about shark culling a "philosophical" debate, about "whether it is ethical to kill large predators in order to make the natural environment a safer playground for humans. Already, many of the worlds largest animals such as elephants, sharks, whales, rhino, and bears are at risk of extinction. This should serve as a warning to those culling elephants. Is the culling of animals, right? 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. 588 Words; Also, as the culling of elephants continues in South Africa, many East African nations are struggling to increase their herds, many of which were killed in the 1980s. This leads to an explosion in population because the older ones are not there to chase away or kill the younger ones. Overall, the Jaws effect and cull programs resulting from an inaccurate shark mental . [12] The current shark cull in KwaZulu-Natal has been criticized by environmentalists, and has been called "archaic" and "disastrous to the ecosystem". Depending on government policy, dangerous sharks can be euthanased or transported out to sea, while other non-target marine life can be released. Lets start with the fact that were protecting different animal species; why shouldnt we protect sharks? Fact Check: Are smart drum lines just a PR exercise? Chapter 29 In: M. L. Domeier (ed). Add to that the fact that shark nets can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, and its easy to see why people are so critical of shark culling, particularly the aggressive programs used in New South Wales and Western Australia. There has been strong opposition to the policy, including from one man who vandalised Premier Colin Barnetts office. [51] A non-lethal Shark Spotters program in Cape Town, South Africa has been in use since 2006. They are then deprived of oxygen and slowly drown to death or are left to be culled by the authorities. Fin-mounted satellite tags are also commonly used. Those in opposition argue on the lack of scientific evidence for the approachs efficiency and moral grounds. Most shark nets are deployed in Western Australia, where shark populations are vast and shark attacks are relatively common when compared to other areas. Among the advocates was the world-renowned surf champion and climate activist, Kelly Slater. In spite of such efforts no significant decrease in rate of shark attacks was ever detected. Many countries are also reaping billions of dollars from reef . Sharks are so crucial for the, A marine biologist from the School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Robert Day, says, the top predators of the trophic levels in any ecosystem are critical because they, decide on whether other species thrive or not, Sharks prey on old, diseased, or weak creatures, thus maintaining the, If the number of sharks in the ocean declines, then other predatory fish species will become abundant that. According to a spokesperson for WA's Fisheries Minister Ken Baston, in September 2014 the WA Government withdrew its proposal for the operation of drum lines for a further three years because the WA Environmental Protection Authority found there to be a: "high degree of scientific uncertainty about impacts [of drum lines] on the south-western white shark population". 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. The tags are attached to a small arrow-head and a short tether and are usually attached to sharks using a tag pole as they swim past a vessel. In addition, culling disturbs marine ecosystems and affects protected and vulnerable species including the targeted great white shark and non-target species such as . Sure, sharks are dangerous and if they get you in their sights, they can destroy you in an instant. As northern New South Wales residents continue to debate the best way to deal with shark attacks in the region, we take a look at the pros and cons of the most popular options available to protect people from ocean predators. Every animal entangled suffers when shark culling, Australia-wide. Shark culling and shark hunts, as an acceptable. The attack occurred in an unpatrolled area. is a freelance blogger based in Pakistan. Not only are shark attacks still common at beaches that have shark nets installed, and not only do they lead to a slow and painful death for the shark, but they kill other marine life as well. "[50], Animal rights activists note the suffering and cruelty inflicted upon animals caught in nets and drum lines: this suffering includes lacerations, stress, pain, disease, and death. They are set with baited hooks to ensnare these sharks, leaving them to die in agony. [17][11] The current net program in New South Wales has been described as being "extremely destructive" to marine life, including sharks. [32] From 1962 to 2018, roughly 50,000 sharks were killed by Queensland authorities.[33]. Surfer Mick Fanning changed the colour of his board from yellow to dark blue after hearing sharks were attracted to lightly coloured, shiny things. [19], Since the policy was implemented there has only been one recorded death, at Amity Point in January 2006. In Hawaii, sharks were culled during the 1960s and '70s with no reduction in bites; recent tagging research implicates habitat preference as the primary driver of shark density, with new sharks moving into preferred areas upon the elimination of other sharks. Apps [6] In addition, Western Australia Fisheries Minister Dave Kelly said "there is currently no scientific evidence to show that drumlines reduce the risk of a [shark] attack". But males cant lay eggs, and they also cant be sold for meat because of their small sizes. The same happens in North America, where tourists pay as much as 500 dollars to hunt White-tail deer. Environmentalists have proposed the banning of shark culling and the use of drum lines because they are threats to endangered species. The WA Fisheries minister highlighted the need to concentrate and invest in new and emerging technologies that offer real protection for the people who are most at risk, i.e., surfers and swimmers. CONS: Traditional drumlines are designed to kill sharks. The government responded by using drum lines to cull great whites, which were responsible for the deaths. 21-year-old Sarah Kate Whiley was attacked by as many as three sharks in Rainbow Channel. But in KwaZulu-Natal, hundreds of harmless sharks - as well as turtles, dolphins and rays - still meet an untimely death every year as a result of the 28 kilometers of shark nets installed by KwaZulu-Natal Sharks Board (KZNSB). Last but not least, on our list of pros and cons of culling animals is the role culling plays in the extinction of endangered animals. There has been some hesitancy by people who were keen to put in tenders and some of them have pulled back, he said. Over the span of 23 years, 1,589 replacement heifers were exposed to bulls. In New Zealand, for example, after WWI, the emus had multiplied so fast that they were a danger to farmers. [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. 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