Drum line (shark control)

[1][2][3][4][5] The topic of shark culling became an international controversy and sparked public demonstrations and vocal opposition, particularly from environmentalists, animal welfare advocates and ocean activists.Since the objective of the drum line is to prevent sharks from approaching popular beaches (and not to attract them) only about 500 grams of bait is added to each hook.In the New South Wales North Coast SMART drumline trial (Australia) 99% of targeted sharks and 98% of other animals caught were released alive."[35] Jessica Morris of Humane Society International says, "sharks are top order predators that play an important role in the functioning of marine ecosystems."[36] Drum lines have been claimed to be an ineffective strategy to keep people safe, while simultaneously resulting in the death of thousands of sharks and other wildlife in the marine ecosystem.[33][37] Western Australia Fisheries Minister Dave Kelly said "there is currently no scientific evidence to show that drumlines reduce the risk of a [shark] attack".The state’s shark control policy has captured over 5,000 turtles, 1,014 dolphins, nearly 700 dugongs and 120 whales, all of which are federally protected marine species.[49] Sharksavers estimates that in total 50 million sharks are caught unintentionally each year as bycatch by the commercial fishing industry.In Reunion, fishermen usually attend the drum lines within 90 minutes of an alert and 90 per cent of animals caught on the hooks survive.In addition, the tagged sharks provide an alert to the community if they pass within range of a series of listening stations located along the coast."[63] On the 17 January 2019 the Environmental Protection Authority of Western Australia determined that the "SMART" drumline trial would have minimal impact on the environment and therefore did not warrant a formal assessment.[64] Prior to 2014, drum lines were only utilised on Australia's eastern coast and in South Africa where the numbers of attacks reduced dramatically.The policy has been the subject of national and international protests, coming under fire from marine conservationists and animal welfare advocates and their supporters.[19] Drum lines have been criticised on animal rights grounds, not only for their negative effect on the environment and the mortality of endangered species, but also for their non-scientific and speciesist approach.
Great white sharks were targeted by Western Australia's controversial shark culling policy.
Drum lineshark netsmortalitybycatchshark attacksshark cullingenvironmentalistsanimal welfarepolyurethanered mulletfalse jacopeverQueenslandAustraliaby-catchKwaZulu-NatalSouth AfricaWestern Australiafor 4 months in 2014Réunionlong linesshark barriersbull sharktiger sharkgreat white sharkSpotted eagle rayMarine catfishBlacknose sharkSilky sharkBlacktip sharkCaribbean reef sharkMarine turtlesBarred gruntSting raysAtlantic goliath grouperNurse sharkMoray eelsSnappersDevil raysBrazilian sharpnose sharkRecife, BrazilAustralian Marine Conservation Societymarine ecosystemhammerhead sharksgreat white sharksgrey nurse sharkstiger sharksbull sharksloggerhead turtlesmanta rayshawksbill turtlesturtlesdolphinsdugongswhalesNew South Wales State governmentgreat whiteGracetownHumane Society InternationalEnvironmental Protection Authority of Western AustraliaWestern Australian shark cullMark McGowanDavid Kellyanimal rightsendangered speciesspeciesistGreat Barrier ReefHumane Society International AustraliaShark attack preventionShark netThe GuardianThe AustralianThe West AustralianBibcodeSunshine Coast DailySharksOutline of sharksShark anatomyShark toothEgg case (Chondrichthyes)Threat displayThreatened sharksCarcharhiniformes (Ground sharks)Heterodontiformes (Bullhead sharks)HexanchiformesLamniformes (Mackerel sharks)Orectolobiformes (Carpet sharks)Pristiophoriformes (Sawsharks)SqualiformesSquatiniformes (Angelsharks)CladoselachiformesHybodontiformesSymmoriidaXenacanthida (Xenacantiformes)List of sharksShark attackSouth AustraliaUnited StatesShark cage divingShark tourismSharks in popular cultureShark sanctuaryShark AllianceU.S. Shark Conservation ActGrey nurse shark conservationSave Our Seas Foundation