URGENT! STOP Western Australia's Sharks from being CULLED. URGENT!

To whom it may concern,

Recent reports in the WA media have suggested that certain members of the public are calling for a shark cull in response to the recent shark attack fatalities.  I am sending this letter to show my shear disgust at such an idea.  I am pleading with you to review the facts and the reality of shark attacks to make the right decision and realise that a shark cull would be disastrous not only to our marine environment but also Australia’s reputation as a world leader in marine conservation. 

Although the Australian media continue to sensationalise the threat of shark attacks to swimmers, the statistics do not support these claims. According to the Australian Shark Attack File (ASAF) there have been only 53 human fatalities in the last 50 years (1.06 per year) in Australian waters from shark attacks. Some years there are no fatalities recorded, other years there have been up to three in a year, but the average remains around one per year. Yet each year thousands of swimmers take to our beaches, with this number increasing every year as population and tourism increases, and yet they manage to make it home unharmed. 

Shark attacks are not increasing; we simply see yearly variation in the number of attacks.  WA happens to of had a high number of attacks for 2011 but this is in no way a sign of increasing shark numbers or an increased risk to beach goers.

As most sharks serve as top predators at the pinnacle of the marine food pyramid, they play a critical role in ocean ecosystems.  Directly or indirectly they regulate the natural balance of these ecosystems, at all levels, and so are an integral part of them. The effects of removing sharks from our ocean ecosystems are very likely to be ecologically and economically devastating. 

The best prevention of a shark attack is not to remove and needlessly kill the sharks but rather to simply employ common sense.  Most attacks occur under very specific conditions related to when and where you swim and what activities you are undertaking whilst in the water.  Simply being aware of these conditions and acting appropriately will dramatically reduce the already minute risk of being attacked.

The ASAF provides the following points which highlight some considerations to help minimise the risk of an attack without having to kill a single shark:

• Swim at beaches that are patrolled by Surf Life Savers.


• Do not swim, dive or surf where dangerous sharks are known to congregate.


• Always swim, dive or surf with other people.


• Do not swim in dirty or turbid water.


• Avoid swimming well offshore, near deep channels, at river mouths or along drop-offs to deeper water.


• If schooling fish start to behave erratically or congregate in large numbers, leave the water.


• Do not swim with pets and domestic animals.


• Look carefully before jumping into the water from a boat or wharf.


• Do not swim at dusk or at night.


• Do not swim near people fishing or spear fishing.


• If a shark is sighted in the area leave the water as quickly and calmly as possible.

I encourage the use of non lethal shark protection measures such as spotter planes and patrol boats but please let common sense prevail and do not allow WA’s treasured sharks to be culled. Australia has one of the richest most diverse coastlines in the world. Please help to keep it that way and protect our sharks.

Yours Sincerely,

A concerned citizen