Reform Gold Coast Shark Nets and Drum Lines
We the undersigned ask for shark control nets and drum lines to be removed completely from Gold Coast beaches annually during the months from June to October when Humpback whale migration is in progress.
We the undersigned ask for shark control nets and drum lines to be removed completely from Gold Coast beaches annually during the months from June to October when Humpback whale migration is in progress.
To The Hon. Timothy Mulherin,
We the undersigned concerned citizens implore you to reform the utilization of shark control nets and drum lines on Gold Coast beaches.
With the aim of setting a precedent for Government bodies Australia-wide and worldwide to initiate programs and procedures which protect wildlife rather than intentionally harm it.
Shark nets have been recognized as a Key Threatening Process by the NSW Fisheries Scientific Committee (Misconceptions about Shark Attacks and N.S.W. Shark Meshing, May 2006, John Paxton , Australian Museum, Sydney)
Since 1962, the Queensland meshing program has inflicted a significant environmental cost, in terms of non-target by-catch including turtles, fish, dolphins, whales, dugongs and non-target shark species including protected and endangered species such as Grey Nurse, Hammerhead and Great White Sharks.
In recent years, communities worldwide have become aware of the dire circumstance of our environment. And the time to do something about it is overdue.
We the undersigned ask for shark control nets and drum lines to be removed completely from Gold Coast beaches annually during the months from June to October when Humpback whale migration is in progress.
We also ask that during the months when shark control measures are removed, that independent research and monitoring is conducted to establish a baseline for evaluating the effectiveness of shark control measures. And that alternate non-harmful devices are trialled during this period.
The definition of Reform is to change and improve something by correcting faults, removing inconsistencies and abuses, and imposing modern methods or values.
It's time for an environmental reform that leads our nation's (and the worlds) environmental future in a new direction with the intent of preservation of species and environment using modern values and methods.
Thank you for taking our position into account. We urge you to help initiate change in these outdated methods of environmental management.
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sharks are so misunderstood. its not fair on them that they are only used for their fins, nor is it fair how they get caught in traps that humans have set up. if you dont want to get bitten by a shark... which never happened to me and i swim with them all the time! then dont go into the water!
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8:13 pm PDT, Aug 2,
Laurel Watson, Arizona
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I love sharks, i want them to be saved so desperatly! We should also look into destroying the shark fin trade...They are a bigger threat than drum lines and shark control nets
Having conducted some research into the use of these 'shark nets' it would seem that they do not enhance beach safety to any great degree…but they DO cause injury to the larger marine animals. These injuries are in many instances fatal to these animals, particularly turtles, whales, harmless sharks etc. The apertures in the net appear to be too large and therefore trap animals unnecessarily. I believe that we are using this net type ‘because we always have’ and we are ignoring the most up to date information, particularly on sharks! If we must have nets to satisfy the public’s fear factor and lack of clear information, why not make the net apertures smaller so they will not trap ANY marine creatures.
I love sharks and I hope to one day study them.
i have looked up sharks in my english project and even shark specialists say sharks bite in a mistake of identity and usually let go when they realise their mistake
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10:39 pm PDT, May 25,
Sophie Szeferowicz, France
I strongly support this petition. |
I feel very very strongly about this issue. Please stop the ignorance and do not allow this practice to continue. It only takes a little intelligent sensible legislation to prevent the unecessary death of a large number of beautiful creatures.
Sharks are not sexy like dolphins and whales, but as the large predators of the ocean, they play an essential and irreplaceable part in our ocean's ecosystem. Please save our sharks!
