Federal Shark Mitigation Funding Urgently Needed
The Greens call for federal leadership and funding for more effective shark bite mitigation measures in the wake of four incidents in just three days at NSW beaches.
As stated by Greens spokesperson for healthy oceans, Senator Peter Whish-Wilson:
“The four incidents at NSW beaches in the past three days have ignited public discussion about what creates the perfect storm for shark encounters to spike, and how best to reduce risks to both ocean-goers and marine wildlife.
“This has again highlighted the urgent need for federal government leadership, starting with establishing a national summit of experts to drive shark risk education campaigns and provide better information and resources to the states.
“This is something the Greens and shark experts have been calling for governments to implement for years.
“A Greens-led Senate inquiry into shark mitigation found the issue requires a nationally coordinated approach and the federal government needs to show leadership in striking the right balance between reducing the risk of shark encounters and conserving nature.
“The Senate inquiry recommended governments help keep ocean-goers safe by supercharging investment in modern-day alternatives to outdated and ineffective shark nets and lethal drumlines. This includes investing in public education, shark shield personal deterrent devices, shark spotter programs, eco-shark barriers, and bite-proof wetsuits.
“Resorting to lethal shark mitigation measures, such as nets and drumlines, is a lazy and ineffective approach – and evidence now shows these measures may attract sharks to beaches, where they can feed on captured marine wildlife.
“Palming off responsibility for shark bite mitigation to the states is a cop-out given many sharks and other marine creatures killed in lethal shark control programs are federally protected species.
“If we want to transition from lethal shark control programs that don’t work, to more effective and sophisticated approaches that protect marine wildlife and ocean-goers, the federal government has an important role to play.
“For the last decade successive federal governments have shown no leadership on this critical matter of public interest – and it’s time for that to change.”
https://greens.org.au/news/media-release/increased-federal-funding-shark-mitigation-urgently-needed
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