This is evident in the poultry industry, where almost half of the chickens that hatch are usually male. 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). Protecting humans from sharks: What are the options? [10], Shark culling mainly occurs in four locations: New South Wales, Queensland, KwaZulu-Natal and Runion. How does killing sharks affect the ecosystem? [18] Between 1950 and 2008, 352 tiger sharks and 577 great white sharks were killed in the nets in New South Wales. Given the legal status sharks enjoy, the benefits to humans would have to be especially high to justify culling as an ethical option. 2. Avoid surfing at dusk, or alone, or in the most dangerous spotswithmurky water. 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. This is done by targeting and eliminating animals that are sick or have undesirable characteristics. [51], The impact of shark culling is minor compared to bycatch from commercial fishing. But most of the approaches used when culling, cause pain and suffering to animals. Global Perspectives on the Biology and Life History of the White Shark", "A comparison of the shark control programs of New South Wales and Queensland (Australia) and KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa)", "Durban activists claim 'shark nets serve no purpose', "Man Who Devoted Life To Sharks, Killed Off The Coast Of Reunion", "In Face Of Shark Attacks, Some Suggest A Gruesome Preemptive Strike", "Shark Nets in Australia What Are They and How Do They Work? [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". About half of the shark species caught in Queensland's nets and drumlines pose very little risk to humans. Other farmers resort to crushing the chicks, a totally unethical practice. [41] Jonathan Clark of the Sea Shepherd group said culling sharks would not make swimmers safer. The state government decided to spray pesticides targeting those mosquitoes that bite humans at night. The balance between the shark vs. human attacks has been shockingly disturbed by shark culling. Every year, thousands of seals are hunted down and killed as a way of controlling their population. But there has to be a plan in place to help achieve desired outcomes and mitigate the risks. The ethics of this practice is a major concern when it comes to the pros and cons of culling animals. What Is The Purpose Of Shark Culling? and other bivalves. So instead of becoming the solution, culling compounds the problem. Without culling, all or most of them would have died of starvation. "[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. For example, in Texas, scientists discovered that breeding among bucks with superior antler quality improved the antler quality of subsequent generations. The KZNSB also states that there were seven fatal attacks at Durban from 1943 until the installation of shark nets in 1952, and that no fatalities or incidents resulting in serious injury have occurred since nets were installed. [81] Tuna and swordfish longline fishing off the coast of South Africa reported 39,000 to 43,000 sharks killed each year between 1995 and 2005. With about 90% of the worlds sharks and other large predatory fish wiped out through overfishing and culling, prey such as sea turtles and crabs have flourished. Read More. Because were looking at the pros and cons of culling animals, it is important to address the question; is calling animals bad? [30] From 2017 to 2018, 218 sharks were killed, including 75 tiger sharks and 41 bull sharks;[19] at least 64 sharks were shot and killed during this period. During that period, about 114 sharks and other animals died. Posted on Last updated: November 18, 2022. The price of shark culling is too high with other marine life getting caught on the lines 4. Its just not true. to reach maturity. [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. These measures are dangerous to other sea creatures like rays, turtles, dolphins, and small, harmless sharks, which get caught up in the traps. They confuse humans for defenseless animals (which, arguably, we are in the eyes of a shark), and most of the time, they dont really care what were doing. Predators as Prey: Why Healthy Oceans Need Sharks, , highlights why we need to protect sharks. They are set with baited hooks to ensnare these sharks, leaving them to die in agony. Often inhumanely culled for their notorious, Sharks keep our oceans and reefs healthy, Other research suggests killing sharks actually, published by a team of researchers from Deakin University, University of Technology, Sydney, Griffith University, and Utah State University in "Nature Climate Change,"warns that the declining population of top ocean predators, i.e. The use of nets and baited drum lines is an outdated and ineffective approach against shark attacks. [26], In August 2018, it was announced that the nets in northern New South Wales would be removed, but that the nets in Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong would stay. Its not a quick death and its not a pleasant one, either. Fishing World is Australias premier and longest established fishing magazine and has become known as the sport fishing bible. 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. [41] National Geographic cameraman Andy Casagrande said the following about the cull: "When will basic intelligence and respect for the planet be a requirement for highly paid supposedly educated government officials? But they are also in danger with overfishing, climate change and government-run culling programs threatening their . Like natural predation, culling also helps to keep the food web healthy. [12] During the same 30-year period, 2,211 turtles, 8,448 rays, and 2,310 dolphins were killed. They believe that we should protect the danger and put sharks before humans. This explains why this point could not miss on our list of important pros and cons of culling animals. Dr Daniel Bucher from Southern Cross University told the ABC: "Great whites are a threatened species and the existing population is already low. This should serve as a warning to those culling elephants. Marketed as 'eco friendly' having become artificial habitats for marine life. [46] In the five years to August 2016, more than 170 sharks were killed as part of the cull. These economic considerations of culling animals need to be based on current scientific data. As a result, the government started culling them. The data is bounced to a satellite and an alert is sent to lifeguards and coastal authorities through a mobile phone app. 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. 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 . Put simply, shark culling is a deliberate government action to kill and reduce the numbers of sharks in our oceans, which is usually an unthoughtful, knee-jerk reaction to a shark attack. Five nets were deployed off Seven Mile Beach off Lennox Head; Sharpes, Shelly and Lighthouse beaches off Ballina; and Main Beach at Evans Head. We should always establish both the pros and cons of culling animals before imposing any culling measures on any species. 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. The traps with a baited hook that are used to attract and snare sharks instead trap them on the ocean floor, leaving them unable to swim. We need to protect sharks to protect our environment. 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. According to the KZNSB, "from 1940 until most of those beaches were first netted in the 1960s, there were 16 fatal attacks and 11 resulting in serious injury. The loss of great white sharks has increased the subsequent ray population who. Here, culling is done based on factors affecting cow performance, such as milk production, reproductive status, and diseases. This service may include material from Agence France-Presse (AFP), APTN, Reuters, AAP, CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced. "[46] Runion authorities currently kill about 100 sharks per year. Because of their huge population, they littered the city with thousands of pounds of feces every day. PROS: Guaranteed to avoid a shark encounter by staying on land. In South America, for example, vampire bats are responsible for the transmission of the deadly rabies virus. This leads to an explosion in population because the older ones are not there to chase away or kill the younger ones. The culling of animals also prevents the spread of diseases that would destroy a particular species gene pool. First introduced in the 1930s at a time when we didn't know much about biodiversity, shark behaviour or sharks' vital role in ocean ecosystems. Demonstrable effectiveness means a measurable decrease in shark bite incidents in response to culling activities. A similar incident happened in New York in 1999 with the West Nile virus. What are the pros and cons of culling animals? [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". "[34], "[Data] reveals the ecological carnage of [Queensland's] shark control regime. Therefore, many governments started culling them. Furthermore, theres a massive potential to offset carbon emissions by maintaining aquatic ecosystems and seagrass. 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. Endangered Species in California You Need to Know, 18 Best Greenhouse Accessories | Must-Haves in 2023, Copyright OurEndangedWorld | All Rights Reserved, Environmental Organizations in The Philippines, Environmental Organizations in North America, Environmental Organizations in South America, Best Energy-Efficient Electric Fireplaces, animals is driven by public hysteria and arbitrary reasons, 10 Impactful Ways to Conserve Coral Reefs. [56] In November 2018, more than 7,000 Western Australians signed a petition demanding that the planned "SMART" drum line trial be abandoned. Most shark nets are deployed in Western Australia, where shark populations are vast and shark attacks are relatively common when compared to other areas. PROS: Ability to save sharks once they are caught. All After all, 80 is an incredibly low number when you consider how many people surf, swim, and ride jet skis and boats every single year. "With some species of shark seeing a 90 percent reduction, culling sharks could effectively result in dead zones in the oceans providing. "[74] Kelly Wang of One Green Planet said, "Australia's attitude towards its sharks is truly horrific. Fact Check: Are smart drum lines just a PR exercise? Overall, the Jaws effect and cull programs resulting from an inaccurate shark mental . Before we take a closer look at shark culling, lets address the prevalence of shark attacks. 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". The proposition for shark culling has been widely opposed by environmentalists, conservationists, and most policymakers. CONS: Traditional drumlines are designed to kill sharks. Between October 2007 and December 2011, about 23% of animals caught on the drum lines died. In Australia, white sharks had caused several human fatalities. Since 2012, Queensland's Shark Control Program has been responsible for 7,504 animals being . "[15], Jane Williamson, an associate professor in marine ecology at Macquarie University, says "There is no scientific support for the concept that culling sharks in a particular area will lead to a decrease in shark attacks and increase ocean safety. The goal of everyone is to improve shark bite prevention and risk reduction while finding solutions that reflect the values of the public. The government came up with a program to combat the disease. Valerie Taylor is a competitive spear fisher turned shark conservationist who is adamantly opposed to shark culling and the methods used. China has taken a 'dramatic' lead in critical technologies used for military power, report says, Former minister takes 'absolute responsibility' for Robodebt, admits defending scheme despite knowing it could be unlawful, Aussies collapse in dramatic fashion to be all out for 197, MP Monique Ryan and chief of staff Sally Rugg fail to settle dispute after four-week mediation, 'Sickening, callous and brazen': Sydney man dies in hail of bullets in front of 12yo son, Evelyn worked three jobs when she was in her 20s to build up her super. In fact, when shark culling was carried out in Hawaii, between 1959 to 1976, over 4,500 sharks were killed and yet there was no significant decrease in the number of shark bites recorded. Its a knee-jerk reactionpeople get bitten, people die, the government starts killing sharks. CONS: Contractor required to check drumlines and relocate the sharks, contractor needs to reach the caught shark in a timely manner, other marine life may be caught. Sharks hold a economic and cultural significance to many communities. Although hard to deal with initially, they were eventually brought under control when over 60,000 emus were culled in 6 months. ", "Western Australia's 'Serious Threat' Shark Policy Condemned by Senate", "Western Australia's Shark Culls Lack Bite (And Science)", "Sharks: How a cull could ruin an ecosystem", "No Shark Cull: Why Some Surfers Don't Want to Kill Great Whites Despite Lethal Attacks", "Responding to the risk of white shark attack: updated statistics, prevention, control, methods and recommendation. Additionally, the methods used in shark culling also kill turtles, dolphin and other unintended marine life. Pros Cons Sharks are an important source of tourism across Australia. They are then deprived of oxygen and slowly drown to death or are left to be culled by the authorities. To begin with, culling generates money through tourism, especially where wildlife is involved. [2][3][4][5][6][40][68] They say sharks are important to the marine ecosystem and that killing them harms the marine ecosystem. [32] It has been argued that killing sharks in the Great Barrier Reef is "vastly inconsistent with the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority's main objective, 'to provide for the long-term protection and conservation of the environment. [49], From 1959 to 1976, a government-funded program killed 4,668 sharks in Hawaii. A drumline trap is made up of a large baited hook attached to a floating object that is then anchored to the seabed. When it is supported by science and done in the right manner, culling offers many benefits to both humans and animals. [21] Sixty-five percent of shark attacks in New South Wales occurred at netted beaches. These diseases are highly infectious and fatal for both animals and humans. If a particular species population becomes too large, that species becomes a threat not just to themselves but also to other animals. It was later discovered that the flying fox was the chief agent of pollination for more than half of the islands plant life. Avoiding shark culling allows fish to mature and recover. Environmental Protection Authority of Western Australia, the French Overseas Department of Runion, "Can governments protect people from killer sharks? [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). Left to be based on current scientific data the sport fishing bible caused several human fatalities, French. Has increased the subsequent ray population who x27 ; s shark control regime governments protect from... Should serve as a way of controlling their population 's attitude towards its sharks is truly horrific we! 'S ] shark control regime example, in Texas, scientists discovered that the flying fox was chief. 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Turned shark conservationist who is advantages of shark culling opposed to shark culling mainly occurs in four locations New!

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