As concerned citizens, we implore you to reform the utilization of shark control nets and drum lines on Gold Coast beaches.
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 nets 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 with the intention of future implementation - replacing existing net systems.
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 We urge you to help initiate change in these outdated methods of environmental management.
