What It Means For Sharks & People. Culling is the process of selective elimination of animals based on traits or factors such as health, appearance, and sex. But they are also in danger with overfishing, climate change and government-run culling programs threatening their . [2][3][4][5] Conservationists say killing sharks on drum lines harms the marine ecosystem. Without sparrows, the locusts and pests destroyed a lot of grain, contributing to the Great Famine of China that killed millions of people. We need to avoid shark culls and give them enough time to survive, grow, and reproduce. CONS: Choice Magazine rated a range of personal shark repellent devices in January 2016 and said: "If fear of a shark attack is stopping you from entering the water, then forking out for a personal shark deterrent may provide some peace of mind. Shark culling or shark control is the act of deliberately killing sharks, thus reducing their population sizes, and preventing shark attacks. is a freelance blogger based in Pakistan. Those cattle that are considered to have defects are usually identified and killed. [38][39][19][40] The killings have been called a cull. 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. This is evident in the poultry industry, where almost half of the chickens that hatch are usually male. (a site that tracks attacks and fatalities by sharks across Australia), there is an average of 10 fatalities per year due to shark attacks globally, compared to the approximately 100 million sharks killed by humans annually for food, sport, and safety. And, sharks are being caught faster than they can mature. I can understand that because there has been a lot of aggression and threatening behaviour in the community.. Mr Barnett says commercial fishermen are understandably wary. Natalie Banks, testified the statement saying that the use of shark hooks has never proven to work. [50][51] Some Native Hawaiians are against shark culling because of the significance of sharks in Hawaiian culture (sharks are viewed as aumakua, or personal-family gods). The same was observed in ferrets on a British island. [67][51][66][79] The Sea Shepherd group says, "private investors are trialing various programs such as electronic deterrents, drones, the Eco Shark Barrier at a local beach in Perth, and smart phone applications which use social media to advise the community of where sharks are spotted". Every year, thousands of seals are hunted down and killed as a way of controlling their population. 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. PROS: Swimmers and surfers can be warned if a shark is detected close to shore. [27], From 1962 to the present, the government of Queensland has targeted and killed sharks in large numbers by using drum lines and shark nets,[22] under a "shark control" programthis program has also killed large numbers of other animals such as dolphins; it has also killed endangered hammerhead sharks. They set up traps to catch and kill the cats. 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 . The KwaZulu-Natal Sharks Board (KZNSB) says, "Both types of equipment function by reducing shark numbers in the vicinity of protected beaches, thereby lowering the probability of encounters between sharks and people at those beaches." There will be bycatch: in the 2014-2015 meshing season, 44 target sharks and 145 non-target marine life were entangled off netted NSW beaches. [39][40] The cull was also called a "farce". So, is culling animals good? 426 Words; 2 Pages; Decent Essays. However, there are some people who think otherwise. ", "The Untold Story of Shark Nets in Australia", "Sydney Shark Nets Set to Stay Despite Drumline Success", "Whitsunday Locals Resist Shark Culls After Two Attacks", "Here's What You Need To Know About Australia's SMART Drum Lines Being Used To Prevent Shark Attacks", "Shark Nets Death Traps For Marine Animals", "About the Campaign:Sea Shepherd Working Together With The Community To Establish Sustainable Solutions To Shark Bite Incidents", "Threat to Cut Shark Nets if Government Fails to Act", "Shark nets will return to NSW's north coast beaches", "Shark Nets To Be Removed From All NSW North Coast Beaches", "Dolphins, Rays Among Hundreds Of Non-targeted Animals Killed On Queensland Shark Nets And Drum Lines, Figures Show", "Video: Endangered Hammerhead Sharks Dead on Drum Line in Great Barrier Reef", "621 Sharks Killed Off Queensland Coast Through Control Program", "Australian Government Plans Would Block Shark Cull Photography", "Queensland Government Kills Sharks, Faces Court Challenge", "Overfishing has destroyed Australia's shark population", "Lifesavers warn swimmers off Amity Point", "Australian Authorities Kill 6 Sharks After Whitsunday Islands Attacks", "Culling Of Tiger Sharks After Whitsundays Attacks Sparks Heated Debate", "Fourth Shark Culled Leads to Backlash After Whitsundays Attacks", "Drum Lines Part Of Life In South Africa For 50 Years", "Fact Check: Are smart drum lines just a PR exercise? They also scavenge, clearing the water of decomposing debris. Unfortunately, of the 172 sharks that were killed, none were white sharks. "[34], "[Data] reveals the ecological carnage of [Queensland's] shark control regime. Its a knee-jerk reactionpeople get bitten, people die, the government starts killing sharks. Shark culling is a term used to describe the blatant killing of sharks and is also used by some to describe the use of traditional drumlines. CONS: Can not be everywhere at once, possible visibility issues when water clarity is not ideal, financial cost of hiring aircraft and/or personnel to conduct surveillance, water-users may ignore warnings. The state government decided to spray pesticides targeting those mosquitoes that bite humans at night. These diseases are highly infectious and fatal for both animals and humans. However, the brutal way in which they are killed certainly needs to be rechecked. We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we live, learn, and work. 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. CONS: Shark biologist Dr Rachel Robbins told Radio National: "The problem is, it could lead people into a false sense of security because they'll think 'there hasn't been a detection in two weeks', however we're only looking at tagged sharks and we're only going to ever be able to tag a very small portion of the shark population at any one time". Fact Check: Are smart drum lines just a PR exercise? That list can include any act that further endangers already threatened species, or adversely affects two or more listed threatened species. "[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. This leads to an explosion in population because the older ones are not there to chase away or kill the younger ones. This means they have to be culled. In Queensland, in 54 years of operation, only one fatal shark attack has been recorded at a controlled beach,[62] compared to a total of 27 fatal attacks between 1919 and 1961. Here's why shark culling is not a good idea: Sharks are in their natural environment, swimming and finding food; Sharks are irrational predators; Sharks will always keep returning to beaches and surfing/swimming zones; There are more than 480 species of sharks, but . A range of brightly coloured and striped wetsuits are currently being marketed as shark deterring outfits. The Australian Environment Ministry also considered a massive shark cull program in Western Australia in 2014 after seven fatal deaths were reported by shark attacks over the past three years. [80] Australia's commercial shark fishing industry catches over 1200 tonnes of shark each year,[64] 130 of which being great white sharks. Will smart drum lines actually prevent shark attacks? The predatory role of sharks is also significant for the worlds economy. In 1949, diseases were ravaging and killing hundreds of Chinese. [55] In August 2018, the Western Australia government announced a plan to re-introduce drum lines (though, this time the drum lines are "SMART" drumlines). So culling only hastens the process of extinction. for and against shark culling with fierce representations and opinions on both ends of the table. [1] From 2013 to 2014, 667 sharks were killed on Queensland's drum lines and in shark nets, including great white sharks and critically endangered grey nurse sharks. For example, bison are being culled in Yellowstone National Park. Those in opposition argue on the lack of scientific evidence for the approachs efficiency and moral grounds. [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". Culling . '"[34], In October 2018, the Queensland state government proposed a policy which would ban the photography of shark culling in Queensland; Lawrence Chlebeck of Humane Society International said the following about this proposal: "The Queensland Government's plan to put exclusion zones around shark control equipment is simply a measure to keep the slaughter of sharks and marine wildlife hidden from public view. Before culling is done, it is important to consider the economic benefits of the exercise. "[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. Other farmers resort to crushing the chicks, a totally unethical practice. Eventually, the state government decided to cull them, which solved the problem. CONS: Reports can not be received in the water, possibility of hoax reports, impossible to report every shark. CONS: No more swimming/surfing/kayaking etc. [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". 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. [47] George H. Burgess called the killings "an archaic, knee-jerk reaction that seems more borne of vengeance than of science. 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. The state's shark control policy has captured over 5,000 turtles, 1,014 dolphins, nearly 700 dugongs and 120 whales, all of which are federally protected marine species. The following was said about Queensland's use of lethal drum lines: "Lethal drum lines in Queensland are used to catch and kill sharks. Shark control is a controversial topic, as you would expect, and many experts argue that its just the governments way of making it look like they are responding to shark attacks, even though those responses are expensive, inhumane, and only partially effective. Webbed Gloves Can Help Your Surfing. 2. The breeder takes all things into consideration when envisioning their ideal for the breed or goal of their breeding program. "[35], About 360 baited drum lines have been placed off the coast of Queensland, including 78 along the Sunshine Coast, 54 near Townsville, 27 near Mackay and 38 near Cairns. The ethics of this practice is a major concern when it comes to the pros and cons of culling animals. Avoiding shark culling allows fish to mature and recover. "[41] Most Whitsunday locals resisted the cull. A drum line consists of a large, baited hook suspended from a large plastic float, which in turn is anchored to the sea bed. Overfishing, shark finning, climate change, black market trade, and habitat loss have had a massive effect on sharks. 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. [56] In November 2018, more than 7,000 Western Australians signed a petition demanding that the planned "SMART" drum line trial be abandoned. Check out our guide. PROS: Gives the public an opportunity to report sightings, quick alert time after initial report, free of charge. According to the report, 16,177 metric tons of shark fin, valued at around USD294 million per year, were imported globally each year between 2000-2016, with 90% of these shark fin products being imported by four countries: Hong Kong SAR (9,069 mt/year), Malaysia (2,556 . One of the solutions focused on the culling of four pests that were carriers of this disease; rats, sparrows, flies, and mosquitoes. Alternative ways of dealing with this problem should be established. Those with undesirable traits are culled, allowing farmers to drive profitability. Most shark species take longer to reach maturity, especially the larger species such as bullshark, who take about. [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. The problem is that they float and dont connect with the shoreline or the surface, so its possible for sharks to swim over and under them. They are set with baited hooks to ensnare these sharks, leaving them to die in agony. Decent Essays. "[43], In a 30-year period, more than 33,000 sharks have been killed in KwaZulu-Natal's shark-killing program. Human Evolution In Nature [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". CONS: Associate Professor Adam Stow, of Macquarie University told the ABC that: "Killing sharks risks disruption to the ecology of the ocean". 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. 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. Here is a trailer of Shark Beach featuring Chris Hemsworth diving with sharks in Australia. It was later discovered that the flying fox was the chief agent of pollination for more than half of the islands plant life. Any contact with animals should always be humane. Shark Culling Facts. In case of an outbreak of HPAI, one way of controlling the spread of the disease is through the culling of infected poultry. Sharks are [viewed as] either a commodity or a pest, instead of a respected fellow species on this planet. 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advantages of shark culling