Shark News - Weekend rallies set to oppose WA shark cull

Things are certainly hotting up in Australia as people from around the country will be gathering at one of 16 events occurring nationwide this Saturday to protest the shark cull due to happen in WA. There will also be an international additional event happening in New Zealand. The events have been scheduled in every state and will be happening at a specific time in each state so that the nationwide protests all begin together.

This will be the second wave of rallies across Australia to protest the shark cull. The first nationwide protests happened on the 4th January and made the national news. Since then the movement against the cull has gained  momentum with more Australians lending their support to protecting their wildlife. The cause has also received international attention with celebrities such as Ricky Gervais coming on board to send a message to the government of WA. A recent poll run by UMR showed that 80% of Australians oppose the cull.

The decision by the WA government to implement lethal shark preventative measures came after an increase in shark attacks in the state in recent years with 7 fatal shark attacks between 2011 and 2013. The premier of Western Australia - Colin Barnett - announced the decision to set baited drum lines late last year. Since then the proposal has been fiercely protested by the general public. The cull has also been opposed by leading shark scientists as there is very little evidence to indicate that shark culling is an effective measure to increase public safety. Many parties opposed to the cull also argue that the number of people killed by sharks per year pales in comparison to people killed in rip tides, drownings or road traffic accidents. Despite the overwhelming lack of scientific or public support, Mr Barnett is still standing by his decision to continue with the cull until at least the end of April 2014.  

The first shark to fall victim to the baited drum lines was in the south-west of the state last weekend. Whilst the catching and shooting of the animal - a tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier) - caused public outrage there was an even more emotive point to the kill. According to news sources, the commercial fisherman hired to carry out the cull had misidentified the shark as a bull shark (Carcharhinus leucas). Given the striking difference between the two species this mistake is inexcusable and throws into question whether the individual should even be carrying out the job.

Tiger sharks and bull sharks are listed as "Near Threatened" in the IUCN Red List whilst white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) are listed as "Vulnerable". Colin Barnett has appealed to federal law to lift the protection on these sharks so that he may carry out his cull.

Despite Mr Barnetts seemingly immovable stance on the subject, the protest rallies this weekend look set to be well attended and hopefully will send a message which the government will find difficult to ignore.