Turk Posted January 4, 2014 Share Posted January 4, 2014 Thousands have gathered on a Perth beach to protest against the WA government's new policy of culling dangerous sharks. The government has announced an intention to catch and kill any large great white, tiger or bull shark found within a kilometre off the coast. The policy was announced after a spate of shark attacks, with seven fatalities in the past three years. Protesters at the rally claimed that killing sharks could damage the marine ecosystem and was the wrong solution for the problem. 'Without the sharks there will be no future for humanity because they balance out the ecosystem and every living creature in the sea is really important,' said one protester. There was a second rally against the policy in the Melbourne suburb of St Kilda, and more protests are planned for February 1st. 'We need to use the science that's there, to work with the science that's there, to learn to live with these creatures instead of culling them,' a Melbourne demonstrator said. Representatives of the WA Greens, Australian Labor Party, Conservation Council and Sea Shepherd Australia were among the attendees at the Perth rally. The Greens claim that because the policy may impact endangered species protected by federal legislation, the issue should be dealt with at a federal level. The WA government is nonetheless insistent the cull will go ahead and that human life should be the first priority. The new policy is expected to be in operation by January 10th. http://www.skynews.com.au/topstories/article.aspx?id=939256&vId=4291823&cId=Top%20Stories Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calguyhunk Posted January 5, 2014 Share Posted January 5, 2014 You need a net, not a cull! It will be more humane, won't mess up the ecology and keep the beach goers safe. What's up with people these days killing animals with impunity? After the badger cull in the UK a while back, now we have a shark cull! :(The problem is, as our populations rise to unsustainable levels, these human-animal clashes over living space will become more and more common. And the almighty humans are gonna win the battle in the short term, but with total lack of foresight we'll lose the war in the long term, I'm afraid. We're just shooting ourselves in the foot, the way we're using our natural resources - hydrocarbon mining, stone quarrying, indiscriminate hunting, fishing (dolphins, sharks etc.), lumbering, forest clearing, unregulated water body diversions and dam constructions - you name it! :yes:Oh well! I just hope I don't live to see the day one of those doomsday movies become a reality :( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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