Despite Queensland killing many times more sharks than WA, it is clear that the Queensland Government is ignorant of the antiquated and cruel treatment of our coastal marine life.
A recent survey of all Qld election candidates reveals that the LNP and the ALP support the ongoing shark cull in Queensland. PUP candidates were not given the opportunity by their party to respond. However, The Greens are clear in their support of removing drum lines and nets during the whale migration season. Andrew Bartlett of The Greens said, “Nets and drum lines should be replaced with modern technologies that mitigate shark incidents without harming other marine animals.”
The Qld Shark Control Program is based on 1960s technologies that harm marine ecosystems and now panders to fanciful ideas created in Hollywood movies and trotted out by conservative politicians.
Many Queenslanders and most tourists believe that shark nets prevent sharks from reaching beaches where people swim. This is far from the case as the nets are 186m long, do not reach the sea bed and do not extend to shore. Sharks swim along the beaches, around and under the nets and yet there are incredibly few shark incidents.
Survey designer, Mr Jonathan Clark said, “The results of the survey demonstrate clearly that most candidates are quite ignorant of the damage caused and the lack of effectiveness of Qld’s Shark Control Program.”
Mr Clark added, “Only The Greens responded with organised and clear policies to improve the nonsensical program in Queensland where nets and drum lines are even deployed in areas where it is inadvisable to swim due to stingers and crocodiles. It is time for a rethink of the whole system.”
Initially the survey was sent to candidates of coastal, hinterland and city seats. “This was expanded to candidates in all Queensland electoral districts as it is not only people who live on the coast, but people who visit the coast who ought to be interested,” Mr Clark said. “This issue is much bigger than making people feel safe at the beach. It is about the whole marine eco-system. It is about the sharks, whales, dolphins, dugongs, rays and turtles. Queensland is shooting lions, and killing giraffe and antelope at the same time.”
The results of the survey have been published online to assist voters in the election make informed decisions about which candidates consider the marine environment and its management important enough to reexamine Queensland’s antiquated Shark Control Program.
“Shark nets are ineffective, expensive, unnecessary and frankly unacceptable in today’s climate,” said Australian Marine Conservation Society Director Darren Kindleysides in October last year.
Survey results have been published at http://tinyurl.com/qldsharks where all responses from the candidates and parties are available.
For further information contact:
Jonathan Clark
0402 393 459