The Bloke

True, but it is acknowledged that nets and drum lines ensnare and kill creatures such as whales etc,that weren't targeted.

The Bloke

.... but those little nasties aren't an apex predator that keeps the rest of the ocean ecology in balance......

The Bloke

Well, why shouldn't sharks come in close to the shoreline? If their natural food source goes in close , why shouldn't the sharks follow it in....and I'm not talking about people. If people go swimming at beaches that have a food source (seals etc), especially with warning signs posted, no excuse. On average only 3 to 4 people per year have been attacked by sharks since records were started in 1791 in Australia.

BTW, just to save you going off the deep end, I'm not a shark hugger, lover or what ever, just someone trying to put over a logical defence for the shark to a knee-jerk reaction by the government, but as you are obviously not open to seeing the other side of the argument, it would be very difficult to convince you that this is indeed a knee jerk reaction.

chris955

Excellent, hopefully with enough public pressure this absurd policy will be stopped.

scrubbedexpat098

See I don't get that really, it's alright to jump up and down about majestic apex predators being slaughtered, but not smaller less dramatic creatures.

I'll admit to killing cockroaches, but all other spiders/mice etc that find their way into our house get relocated not killed.

By the way I'm not a vegetarian in case you wondered, just complicated, wierd eh?

chris955

Apex predators are called that for a reason, you start killing them and the knock on effect is huge. Killing apex predators because there is a minute chance one might spoil your day at the beach is the absolute height of human arrogance, it really is no wonder the world is quite frankly f***ed.

chris955

Oh I love how those of us concerned about the environment and protected wildlife get labled shark lovers

chris955

For some much needed perspective.
http://www.quickmeme.com/p/3vse0u

Tramps_mate

Just saw this on Bbc news. Is the cull due to 7 deaths in 3 years??

Pretty sure there's more dangerous things out there to concern themselves about..

Like drink drivers for starters!

chris955

Yes, exactly, 7 deaths in 3 years and some numpties think killing a few sharks will make the beaches safe. Its absolutely unbelievable.

civilservant

I am a shark lover... swam with them 4 times in the past

(and before anyone says thats part of the problem, I was working with the Great White Conservation Project in Gansbaai, South Africa)

bitzenpces

Seals are not seen at the surf beaches around here, there are no warning signs and there is a mix of patrolled and unpatrolled beaches. People are just using the beach in the same way as they have done for decades. It is the shark's behaviour that has changed. Eleven deaths in 13 years, and I think the figure is 7 deaths in the last 3 years.

I don't think that the sharks need protecting at the moment, same goes for crocs in the north. The prospect of killing a few sharks close to shore has been in the pipeline here for a couple of years at least, so I don't think that it is accurate to say it's a knee-jerk reaction. While the WA govt dillied and dallied over the matter, more people have been killed. There was a particular incident just over a year ago when hundreds of kids were at risk - that's much more important than a few big fish.

Turban Explorer

http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/3855/0 It seems the International Union for the Conservation of Nature would disagree with you

Bermudashorts

If you are this worried about sharks, just don't go into the sea. You really have no need to, we humans do not need to go into the sea, not ever if we don't want to. Sharks do, they live there, they don't do so well on land.

The Bloke

There have been only 892 recorded shark attacks since 1791 with 217 fatal....
(Source:http://www.australiangeographic.com....ia-a-timeline/ )...... which gives an average of roughly 1 per year....

How can you expertly comment that the sharks behaviour has change? Are you a shark psychologist chance? They are doing what they have been doing for millions of years.
It is not the number of sharks that is growing, but rather the number of people going to the beaches, so of course if you increase the smorgasbord on offer mixed in with other food in their diet.........
Please read from the Australian Geographic.....

http://www.australiangeographic.com....hark-attacks-/
and CSIRO http://www.washarkattacks.net/swimming-deaths.php

As you really have not given a location, one would have to assume that you are in the SW corner of WA around Perth. Obviously if the was a clear and present danger to swimmers, council (wherever) would have erected warning signs, implemented beach and air patrols to detect sharks. maybe the increasing numbers of sharks aren't the problem?
Should the government look at culling the population of swimmers ......


As I said before, you've have closed you mind to the other side of the argument!
Bon Apetit!