Keep Ban on Killing of Great White Sharks

In Australia, great white sharks have been listed as “rare or likely to become extinct” and fishing or culling them has been banned since 1999.

After five swimmers have attacked over the last 12 months, local officials in Western Australia are considering ending the ban on the killing of great white sharks.

Since only about 100 great white sharks have ever been tagged or sampled in Australian waters, accurate information and futher studies should be conducted, based on sound science before killing great white sharks resumes.

The truth is, very little is known about them, or why there seem to be many in Australia right now. The population may not have increased very much at all- and more sharks might simply be present because there is a greater food supply- or perhaps there are just far more swimmers in the ocean, increasing a likelyhood of shark encounters.

While it is still unknown what brings great white sharks closer to the Australian shore at this time, precautions by swimmers, or even swimming bans may be more in order than killing the sharks. We ask Australia to keep the ban on the killing of great white sharks as they are a very important part of the ecosystem.

SOURCE: http://www.greenerideal.com/science/0826-australian-officials-look-to-lift-ban-on-killing-great-white-sharks/

The Australian Fisheries Management Authority
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CANBERRA ACT 2610
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Email: info@afma.gov.au