Shark Killing to Push Through Despite Beach Protests in Western Australia
Despite the protest of thousands of Australians at Cottlesloe Beach, the Western Australia government will still go with its plan to cull sharks. More than 4,000 people showed up on Perth's beach on Jan 4 in protest of the government's plan to kill large sharks using baited lines.
The government announced its shark culling plan after shark attacks off the Western Australian coast claimed the lives of 7 people. The fatal attacks all occurred in a span of three years. Acting Premier Kim Hames believes the government is doing the right thing and has no plans of backing down on the issue.
Ms Hines said seven people have died from shark attacks in the last three years compared to 20 people in 20 years. The government has previously remarked it will only kill sharks over three metres long.
However, environmental groups have argued that culling sharks will not prevent future attacks from happening. Natalie Banks, one of the protest organisers, remarked other marine life might get caught in the bait lines and sharks less than 3 metres long.
Meanwhile, South Australia maintains its stand not to implement shark baiting in its waters. Acting Environment Minister Leon Bignell said shark culling will only lead to the destruction of other marine life. Mr Bignell described shark-baiting as something that "doesn't make sense."
Using technology to spread awareness
A safer way of preventing shark attacks is arming people with better information. Sharks in Western Australia are using Twitter to warn swimmers of their presence. The group Surf Life Saving WA has attached transmitters to 320 sharks in Australia and programmed them to send a "tweet" whenever a shark moves within a half a mile from the shore. The tweet informs swimmers of the location, type and size of the shark.
Australians usually get shark alerts from newspapers and radios when officials detect a shark's presence. The Twitter alert is useful in giving out information immediately to the public. According to Surf Life Saving's Chris Peck, yesterday's paper is not going to help anyone who is planning to go to the beach on a Saturday afternoon. Mr Peck said people will now have access to instant information about sharks in the vicinity.
Aside from sending tweets warning swimmers, the transmitters can also provide researchers with new scientific data on how great white sharks move. The batteries in transmitters were designed to last for a decade.
