Photographer : Sean Rom |
Shark nets have been used for over 20 years as a way of making Australians feel safer in the water. However, environmentalists claim the nets are not only ineffective, but kill other endangered wildlife that are protected by law. The Humane Society estimates that between 1995 and 2004, 48 great white sharks and 24 tiger sharks were killed in the shark nets on Sydney’s ocean beaches. Over the same period 1,485 other marine animals were caught and killed in nets, including turtles, whales, dolphins, rays, dugongs, as well as harmless species of sharks. Only NSW and QLD have shark control programs in place.
How do shark nets and drumlines work?Contrary to popular belief the shark nets do not act as a barrier to stop sharks getting into the beach. They are designed to lure and catch sharks, and in the process cull the population. In fact, in NSW approximately a third of sharks killed in the nets are caught on the beachside of the nets. Drumlines are used in QLD and consist of a series of floats baited with hooks that are designed to catch sharks.
Is this process justified?Many Australians have an irrational fear of shark attacks. However, people are much more likely to die crossing the road on the way to the beach or even from a bee sting. Arguably, the nets and the death toll of marine wildlife are a crude over-reaction to what is a low risk for humans.
Why should we care if these man-eating monsters are killed?Great white sharks are a protected species by law—and it is their home you are swimming in. The nets also kill thousands of harmless and threatened marine life e.g. the grey nurse shark, marine turtles, dugongs, seals and whales.
Caption : Dead Marine Life
Photographer : Sean Rom |
What is being done?There is an obvious contradiction between laws protecting threatened marine species and the very purpose of the nets and drumlines as a method of killing such species. Consequently, the NSW Government is now required to develop a Threat Abatement Plan, which could phase out the nets and investigate humane and less ecologically damaging alternatives. However, the outcome of this plan will be affected enormously by public opinion.
This content has been written in consultation with Humane Society International
