More than 170 sharks caught, 50 killed in Australia's cull policy

This is stupid. Sharks are an important part of the ecosystem. If people want to swim in shark populated waters, they should take precautions, instead of killing everything around them to make the environment "safe".

The lack of evidence to support the success of the policy is troubling too. It seems more like a knee jerk reaction to the problem of shark attacks than an actual solution. Perhaps encouraging people not to swim in shark infested waters would be a bit too direct?

And of course allowing this practice may undermine Australia`s international credibility in other, strikingly similar, matters with which it has disputes with other countries.

Stupid.

Senseiman

Love your comment!!

I guess it's all in the name of 'scientific research'. I am Australian and I hate the way Australians apply rules to one and not to another. Don't kill the sharks.... They belong there. Come into my house and try to take something from the fridge. You won't get through the door!!

172 sharks were caught with 50 of the biggest ones, including one of 4.5 meters, destroyed. Ninety were tagged before being released

50 killed, 90 tagged. Why didn't they tag the remaining 32?

Likely because having spent a night caught on the line, bleeding from the hook wound and unable to swim and thus breathe properly, on being 'released' they were destined to sink to the seabed and die as a direct result of having been lured onto the meat curtain. A tag would have been wasted.

The sea belongs to the sharks just like the woods belong to the bears. If you don't want to get eaten by the wildlife, just stay out of shark-infested waters and bear-infested woods. But no, animals guilty of nothing more than just being what they are must be subjected to bloody torture and slaughter so that brainless, hairless monkeys can play around on surfboards and pick bracken.

this government will always place greatest value on human life

Fine, then net off a few nice safe beaches for the humans to play on, and teach people that the sensible way to stay alive is not to swim in shark-infested waters. It isn't rocket science.

“The human toll from shark attacks in recent years has been too high,”

And the shark toll from human attack?

Is "destroyed" a new euphemism for killing? Too bad the sharks weren't intelligent enough or majestic enough.

Have none of you people seen "Jaws"?

Is "destroyed" a new euphemism for killing?

It's not new.

Have none of you people seen "Jaws"?

the slogan "Don't go in the water" from the movie has turned out to be a lousy PR campaign for sharks, whose numbers worldwide have been decimated due partly to the frightening and false ideas the film helped spread about them.

http://www.livescience.com/8309-jaws-changed-view-great-white-sharks.html

Sad.

Barbaric catching these sharks like this, to protect a few self indulgent surfers.

I suppose if you were attacked by one of the larger sharks and didn't survive being severely bitten, then you might not oppose the actions taken.

Having been in the water there when there WAS a sighting of a 3+ meter great white, within 100 meters of a crowded beach, I think preventing even one human death, even that of an environmentalist, is worthwhile.

If natural selection dishes out territory then it seems humans have been granted the whole planet.

And won't it all be hunky-dory when there's no one at all here except us.

I suppose if you were attacked by one of the larger sharks and didn't survive being severely bitten, then you might not oppose the actions taken.

Plenty of those who did survive are against the cull.

http://www.smh.com.au/environment/animals/shark-attack-survivor-slams-stupid-shark-cull-20140116-30vsq.html

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/shark-attack-victim-anthony-joyce-has-joined-the-protest-against-the-wa-shark-cull-policy/story-fni0cx12-1226815652679

And even the families of some who didn't survive -

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/12/shark-attack-victims-mother-wants-legal-challenge-to-bait-and-kill-policy

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-02-10/shark-attack-victim-sam-kellett-no-cull-family-statement/5249396

No this is only the Policy of Western Australia's Liberal National state Government alone

Dogs kill more folk than sharks, anywhere in the world.

Anyone proposing a canine cull?

Three cheers for WA government, good job to keep shark under control.

There are not too many sharks; there are too many people playing around in environments which do not belong to them. I surf and scuba and do not support this. This is their territory, and to extrapolate this is dangerous.

They have the wrong end of the stick. Shark attacks would plummet if they instead started culling swimmers and surfers not properly suited up to avoid shark attacks. Word spreads must faster among humans, even the dumb ones amazingly.

Real question : What is Sea Shepherds stance on this? will they be sending any vessels or personnel into the area ?

Cleo, then feel free to have a swim at any of the beaches, such as Manly.

Despicable and cruel. Is this an example of the Australian policy on marine life? Install proper shark nets in areas that can be overseen and leave other areas to the sharks who own it.