Protect our marine life! Ban shark nets

In 2020, almost 60% of the animals caught in shark nets died! Even the 40% released alive are not guaranteed survival – injuries from their period of entanglement can cause death soon after. Of the 480 animals trapped that season, only 50 were targeted sharks. How many more baby whales and dolphins can we stand to let die slowly in them?

A 2012 study by Bond University found that 40% of sharks were caught on the beachside of shark nets. "The nets have never been a barrier to sharks," their researcher said.

Shark nets are cruel, indiscriminate and they don’t work. This carnage is not worth a false sense of security!

So what do we want? Leave our marine life alone – no more lethal or harmful interventions. No more shark nets!

We call on the government to invest in effective and cruelty-free alternatives that protect people and do not harm marine life: shark listening stations, personal shark deterrents, drone surveillance, helicopter surveillance, investment in beach patrol and emergency medical response (proven to reduce the incidence of shark bites and lethality) eco shark barriers (developed in Perth) being trialled in three WA beaches have reported success – these are rigid barriers with smaller holes that do not trap marine life,  and education.

To: Tara Moriarty, Minister for Agriculture
From: [Your Name]

Minister Moriarty, you have the power to ban shark nets and invest in effective and humane shark deterrents that protect people and marine life.

In 2020, almost 60% of the animals caught in shark nets died! Even the 40% released alive are not guaranteed survival – injuries from their period of entanglement can cause death soon after. Of the 480 animals trapped that season, only 50 were targeted sharks. How many more baby whales and dolphins can we stand to let die slowly in them?

A 2012 study by Bond University found that 40% of sharks were caught on the beachside of shark nets. "The nets have never been a barrier to sharks," their researcher said.

Shark nets  are cruel, indiscriminate and they don’t work. This carnage is not worth a false sense of security!

So what do we want? Leave our marine life alone – no more lethal or harmful interventions. No more shark nets!

We call on the government to invest in effective and cruelty-free alternatives that protect people and do not harm marine life:
• shark listening stations;
• personal shark deterrents;
• drone surveillance;
• helicopter surveillance;
• investment in beach patrol and emergency medical response (proven to reduce the incidence of shark bites and lethality)
• eco shark barriers (developed in Perth) being trialled in three WA beaches have reported success – these are rigid barriers with smaller holes that do not trap marine life,
• and education.