PUBLISHED ON: 13 June 2014
Glinting metres below the water's surface, at the end of a metal chain dropping from buoys floating above, a sharp hook the size of a baseball mitt violently pierces the mouth and head of a young female tiger shark. Her injuries leave a dark cloud over her chances of survival — even though she is officially released because she is too small to meet the killing program's 'target length'.
Between January and April this year, 164 sharks faced similar cruelty as a result of the WA government's trial 'drum line' shark cull, introduced as a 'public safety' measure. Almost all of the animals caught were tiger sharks — 61 of them died 'on the line' or were killed — even though no human fatalities implicating a tiger shark have been reported in the region for more than 80 years.
Thousands of Australians from all walks of life turned out in force to protest the killings but now the WA government has announced its intention to use drum lines to catch and potentially kill 1,000 more sharks over the next three years.
The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) is consulting the public about the government's plan and you have until Monday, 7 July 2014 to make your voice heard.
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Talking points for your submission »
While the EPA's review of the government's plan will focus on the environmental impacts of the cull, it's critical that caring members of the public speak out in opposition on all counts, including the inevitable cruelty inflicted on marine animals.
You might like to make some of the following points in your submission!
The WA government's shark baiting and killing plan is:
- Scientifically questionable
- Many scientists oppose the plan because of
- Potential negative impacts on marine life and the environment.
- Lack of evidence that killing sharks in this manner increases public safety.
- The effect of this year's trial on public safety was not even reviewed.
- Cruel
- Sharks killed during this year's trial were forced to endure the distress of being hooked, and potentially languished for hours until found by a patrol.
- According to expert analysis, 74% of the animals captured during the trial were either not 'target' species or undersized, and many of them are likely to have died from their injuries after being released.
The WA government should focus on:
Make your submission online here.
You will be making a submission to the "Public Environmental Review of the Western Australian Shark Hazard Mitigation Drum Line Program 2014-17"
Alternatively, submissions can be:
- Posted to: Chairman, Environmental Protection Authority, Locked Bag 10, EAST PERTH WA 6892; or
- Delivered to the Environmental Protection Authority, Level 4, The Atrium, 168 St Georges Terrace, Perth.
If you have any questions on how to make a submission, please email