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Essays on why shark culling must be banned
Essays on why shark culling must be banned
Essays on why shark culling must be banned
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The Great Shark debate – to cull or not to cull, has been at the forefront of the minds of conservationists, as well as the general population for many decades now. The opinions of everyone are divided, according to their personal experiences, and views on what is right and wrong for the environment.
However, the fact is, and statistics prove that over 100 million sharks are killed every year (according to the Sea Shepherd website), all around the world and for what reason? Shark culling and the hunting of sharks as a solution to beach safety has not been well received by the Australian public. Whilst it is very clear that we need a solution to protect our bathers and surfers, the Herald Sun reported that 82 percent of all respondents to their
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shark culling poll opposed the Western Australia governments plan to “track, catch and if necessary destroy” our shark population. As with our whole ecosystem, we need to strike the balance between marine life, human life and the values that we hold as Australians. It cannot be a question of - a shark’s life or a human life? Over the many years, sharks have suffered dramatically.
Sharks have also been subjected to medical research, games and competitions, jewellery, souvenirs and cosmetics. We need to take into consideration that sharks play a vital role in the natural world that we live in. it is imperative that we look after these majestic creatures and ensure they remain protected. We need to be aware of the dangers of sharks, swim in protected areas where there are shark nets, and do not swim after dark in the sea (especially not alone) as the sea is the sharks home. Humans should also be wearing wet suits as protection in the ocean. The sea is where they live, they swim freely and they eat – they do not particularly target humans but rather prey on food that is available to them in their habitat.
There are many different options available to us rather than the vicious act of shark killing.
Fishery Scientist are constantly working on ways to protect shark species and reduce shark bite incidences. Others have proposed that sonar waves are placed on nets to try and keep sharks away. Researchers are also collecting data from the sharks that are caught by the fishermen to be in a position to better understand sharks, and how we can live in unity with them. A shark tagging programme to try to better understand shark movements and patterns could also assist instead of culling. Statistics show us that there have been drastic reductions in fatal shark bites since nets have been installed in NSW and Qld.
Competitive fishing and human predators account for the majority of sharks
killed. Hooked sharks are hauled onto boats and their fins are sliced off while they are still alive. These animals are then tossed back into the ocean where, unable to swim without their fins, they sink towards the bottom and die an agonizing death. This is not something you would wish on your worst enemy. With 90% of the world's large shark populations already wiped out, sharks are being depleted faster than they can reproduce. This ultimately threatens the stability of our marine ecosystems around the world. Sharks are vitally important predators, and are head of the food chains. They have shaped marine life in the oceans for over 400 million years and are essential to the health of the planet, and ultimately to the survival of mankind. If our food chains collapse, we collapse so this cannot happen. Sea Shepherd (a conservation group) patrols marine protected areas, and have exposed the greed and corruption that drives this multi-billion-dollar” finning” industry, and they are directly intervening to stop the brutal slaughter of sharks. Man should not be able to profit financially at the expense of our ecosystem. Statistics show that on average, only 65 shark attacks occur per year worldwide. This is a small number considering that there are over 7 billion people on this earth, and therefore the perceived threats of sharks are not as great as other world- wide issues. Drugs, alcohol related and road accidents should be seen as a higher priority than shark culling. It has been shown that there is a 30% more likely chance that you would be killed by lightning than by a shark, and 15 times more likely that a coconut could fall on your head and seriously injure you. “Australians have a 1 in 3,362 chance of drowning at the beach, and a 1 in 292,595 chance of being killed by a shark”. A common misconception that beach users have is that the beach belongs to them. This is incorrect. The water belongs to our marine life and most importantly our shark life.
As they are at the top of the food chain, sharks play a very important role in the oceans in a way that an average fish does not. Sharks keep populations of other fish healthy and in proper proportion for their ecosystem. By preying on the old, sick or slower fish in a population, they prevent the spread of disease and prevent outbreaks that could be devastating. According to Ransom Myers from Shark savers, “sharks may be gone within the next decades if we continue to kill them, resulting in the loss of important foods that we depend on for survival, causing a marine ecosystem imbalance.” At the same time, I accept that shark nets could be useful, especially in shark infested areas that have been renowned as spots where many attacks have occurred, but I still believe, as you would, that scientists should spend more resources on working out why it is becoming more common for sharks to be entering shallower waters, looking for food – namely seals, who just happen to look like
...doesn't have to exist. If there aren't many sharks left, just about everything would be affected. From the food web to the climate which would then link to climate change. People should focus on the BIG problems and worry less about the smaller problems that wouldn't affect everyone. If swimmers and surfers would take a chance and risk their lives in the sharks homes then it's their decision, we shouldn't have to worry about that. Each and everyone of us has a brain, which is used for thinking and creating new ideas. If everyone speak out then the world would hear our ideas to solve the problem. It doesn't matter how stupid your ideas may sound or if you're not a celebrity. Everyone has a voice! If everyone tries to stop the culling of sharks then the law will one day be abolished. We can set an example for other countries to follow! Let's show them what we can do!
The largest issue associated with the Queensland shark control program (QSCP) in Queensland is the considerable damage it causes to marine wildlife along the coastline. It is indiscriminate when killing marine animals that swim in close proximity to the shark nets. Between 2001 – 2003, 6250 sharks were caught on drum lines alone, 97% of which were considered as a conservation risk according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
Every year, there are about 100 million Sharks killed, ultimately for its commercial success. Their fins are used as the main ingredient for a dish so-called Shark soup. However, many are unaware of the actual importance of Sharks' existence on Earth. They do a number of things to control and balance aquatic life down below, which in return affects how we live on the surface. Sharks have existed in our world for over 400 million years, if they were to suddenly disappear for industrial purposes, much problems will be encountered throughout the world. We must preserve the lives of Sharks, for many reasons most importantly that shark hunting is morally wrong, it may provide economic failure in a given time, and it may serve a critical unbalance of a healthy environmental state.
Throughout the film there are many experts about the ocean and the animals that live in it. Researcher Ritter the misconception of the shark’s species is blown out of proportion by the media, which is why sharks have such an awful reputation. Experts touch up on this subject adding how even one of the biggest movies Jaws is a very large portion from where people get their fears from or it could be from all of the “shark attacks” on the news. Rob discusses how at the rate we are going we can destroy all of the food chains in the marine ecosystem, and this is where most of our oxygen comes from. Throughout the film experts Rob Stewart and Paul Watson are trying to get long lining banned in Costa Rica. Paul makes a really interesting point saying how the biggest problem is that we do not understand what we are and we are just a bunch of “conceited naked apes” that are out of
In conclusion, shark nets do work and they don't. Scientist might find a way to prevent shark attacks with shark nets or in the feature they might find different ways. Or scientist may invent a way that will only prevent shark attacks and won’t kill any other sea life. To sum up, they need to do some thinking and protect the sea, which is great for sea life, and it is great for the
The bull shark may be responsible for many shark attacks in the world but I believe that we have no right to kill them. Sharks are very important to animals food cycles and if the food cycles get messed up it can greatly effect the world. In fact, the bull shark is more vulnerable to human impact due to their ability to live in fresh and salt water but many sharks that are killed are for either shark fin soup or their liver oil. The sharks liver oil has many uses now but it started as a machine lubricant. Another way that sharks die is by recreational fishing. The sharks can get caught up in the fishermen's nets and eventually suffocate and die. As an environmental community, I feel like we need to inform people about shark habits and how to keep sharks safe. The water is their home and we are
Australian beaches are some of the best in the world and WA beaches are some of the best in Australia. But this may soon no longer be a view held by everyone if the WA government continues to support and allow the shark culling off Perth's major beaches. Hi I'm Maya Koentgen, a marine biologist, ecologist and fellow beach user, and I'm here to tell you why shark culling needs to stop. At the moment hundreds of innocent sharks are being caught and killed and why? Because they are simply swimming in their own homes that us humans have invaded.
Miller, Barbara. "The World Today - New shark attack sparks political frenzy." 2 March. 2009. Web. 15 Apr 2014. Available at: http://www.abc.net.au/cgi-bin/common/printfriendly.pl?http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2008/s2504985
In 2015 only 59 shark attacks have occurred around the world compared to the millions of sharks killed by humans every year. Due to these accidental shark attacks people tend to think that sharks, especially Great Whites are evil creatures with malice intentions when attacks do occur; but, on the contrary that is wrong. Sharks are not the only beautiful and unique creatures in the ocean, they also play a vital role in our ecosystem; however, due to human interference they might not be around much longer, through awareness sharks can be protected from endangerment.
Thesis: Sharks should be conserved because they are an important part of the ocean, attacks are often incidental, and human behavior influences the behavior of sharks.
The Grey Nurse Shark was the first ever shark in the world to be protected; conducted by the New South Wales government the species is seen as protected in 1984, but within a quick 16 years from 1984 to 2000 the classification went from “protected species” to “Critically Endangered” (Australian Government. 2015). The cause of this protection include the hunting of the shark, global warning and attempted relocation of the animal. The grey nurse shark’s population is extremely low as there are thought to be only 1000 left off the east coast of Australia, no doubt that humans have played a role in this. During the 19th century hunting this shark was legal as their liver oil was used to fuel lamps and lanterns. The grey nurse shark isn’t typically aggressive and because of this it then became a prime target for spear fishing competitions, which occurred during the 1950s to 70s which nearly caused the extinction of the shark (Queensland Government, 2012). The Grey Nurse Shark was also hunted for its unique skin as it makes high quality leather, the shark has also been caught for recreational fishing and eating. Humans have also effected the shark’s population drop through the employment of shark nets which are deemed to protect humans but are really hurting animals. In the relocation process, most sharks either die from stress or starvation before they
[Introduction] Sharks are essential to our marine ecosystems, and the continued culling of them can cause the extinction of the species as well as a devastated ecosystem within our oceans.
This statistic is pushed aside as "they are only sharks! " They may not be as loyal as a dog or as friendly as a dolphin, but I believe that all living things have the right to live their lives without fear of being killed for fun or to fulfil barbaric cultural desires. To call all sharks' man-eating monsters is like comparing the entire human race to serial killers and rapists. The primary factor that is affecting sharks conservation is the large finning industries which treat sharks like rubbish they can discard. These industries cut off sharks’ fins to make a Chinese delicacy, shark fin soup.
“Shark! There’s a shark in the water!” Possibly one of the scariest phrases you will ever encounter when out on the beach for a tan or walk. That fearsome predator that has got people cowering in their swimsuits and leaving surfboards at home; it really does have a hold on humans. But it really never was like this...until a certain movie director decided to make a movie about sharks. This we’ll discuss later on in the essay. But undoubtedly one of the greatest animals on the planet, and some of the oceans’ foremost predators, sharks have been an oceanic force dating back to the Silurian Era (SharkSavers 2014) and haven’t looked back since. That’s over 400 million years ago! Not only do they keep ecosystems in check and control prey numbers from population booms (Griffith et al 2008), but also balance out the food chains in the ocean; making for a healthy ecosystems. And one such shark is the ragged tooth shark (grey nurse shark, sand tiger shark), scientifically known as Carcharias taurus.