THE SHARK NET FILM...Gold Coast from The Shark Net Film on Vimeo.
5 Question Survey on the Shark Nets : http://www.surveymonkey.com/r/BND2RGZ
A 2019 documentary explaining the Gold Coast Shark Nets in Queensland, Australia.
The Shark Nets are explained by industry professionals in a 30 minute short film, collated by Holly Richmond and assembled by Drishti Studios (Qld).
Petition :
https://www.change.org/p/queensland-minister-for-fisheries-stop-whale-entanglement-and-collision-and-secure-resting-spots
Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/thesharknetfilm/
Website : www.thesharknetfilm.com
Shark Nets - Myth and Reality
When shark attack levels on Sydney’s surf beaches were high in the 1930s, shark meshing was initiated to reduce the numbers of sharks and shark attacks. The meshing program was spectacularly successful, with large number of sharks killed and no fatal attacks on those surf beaches since meshing began.
However, the meshing program has had significant environmental cost, in terms of non-target by-catch, that is other marine animals (whales, turtles, dolphins, dugongs) and non-target shark species including protected and endangered species, that are killed in the nets.
This is why shark meshing has been listed as a Key Threatening Process by the N.S.W. Fisheries Scientific Committee.
However, the meshing program has had significant environmental cost, in terms of non-target by-catch, that is other marine animals (whales, turtles, dolphins, dugongs) and non-target shark species including protected and endangered species, that are killed in the nets.
This is why shark meshing has been listed as a Key Threatening Process by the N.S.W. Fisheries Scientific Committee.
Misconception 1 - A Physical Barrier
'The shark nets are a physical barrier that prevent sharks from reaching the shallow swimming areas of the surf beaches.'
Reality - "The shark mesh nets do not act as a complete barrier to sharks reaching beaches as they are not permanently set in the water, do not cover the whole length of the beach, and do not extend from the water surface to the seabed. In fact, approximately 40% of shark entanglements occur on the beach side of the nets, because sharks are able to swim over and around the nets."
'The shark nets are a physical barrier that prevent sharks from reaching the shallow swimming areas of the surf beaches.'
Reality - "The shark mesh nets do not act as a complete barrier to sharks reaching beaches as they are not permanently set in the water, do not cover the whole length of the beach, and do not extend from the water surface to the seabed. In fact, approximately 40% of shark entanglements occur on the beach side of the nets, because sharks are able to swim over and around the nets."
Misconception 2 - Sharks Avoid The Nets
'The shark nets act as a deterrent to shark migration
patterns and sharks actively avoid the nets.'
Reality - No research has been conducted to further
test this hypothesis and it remains unfounded.
Nevertheless, it has been stated as fact in the media
more than once in recent years, 'The only reason for
the nets is to kill sharks to reduce their populations'.
'The shark nets act as a deterrent to shark migration
patterns and sharks actively avoid the nets.'
Reality - No research has been conducted to further
test this hypothesis and it remains unfounded.
Nevertheless, it has been stated as fact in the media
more than once in recent years, 'The only reason for
the nets is to kill sharks to reduce their populations'.
Misconception 3 - A Good Shark is a Dead Shark
'The only good shark is a dead shark and the more sharks that are caught in the meshing nets, the better.'
Reality - Sharks have critically important roles in the marine ecosystem. Apex predators like the great white shark and the tiger shark maintain ecosystem balances as the only predators on seals, sea lions, and large fishes. Extinction of such predators would affect our commercial fisheries as marine mammal populations increased. The great white shark is now listed as vulnerable and protected in all Australian state and commonwealth waters.
'The only good shark is a dead shark and the more sharks that are caught in the meshing nets, the better.'
Reality - Sharks have critically important roles in the marine ecosystem. Apex predators like the great white shark and the tiger shark maintain ecosystem balances as the only predators on seals, sea lions, and large fishes. Extinction of such predators would affect our commercial fisheries as marine mammal populations increased. The great white shark is now listed as vulnerable and protected in all Australian state and commonwealth waters.
Misconception 4 - Attacks would increase without nets
'If the shark nets are removed, shark attacks would rapidly increase.'
Reality - Sharks have a very low reproductive potential. As a result recovery of reduced populations is very slow, which is why sharks (and rays) are in decline throughout the world.
'If the shark nets are removed, shark attacks would rapidly increase.'
Reality - Sharks have a very low reproductive potential. As a result recovery of reduced populations is very slow, which is why sharks (and rays) are in decline throughout the world.
Misconception 5 - All sharks are dangerous to humans
'All sharks are predatory carnivores that are a great danger to humans.'
Reality - Given the largest shark, the whale shark, is a
plankton eater, and the Port Jackson shark has teeth
modified as crushing plates for eating invertebrates, it is
wrong to generalise about all sharks. The vast majority of
sharks are harmless to humans.
'All sharks are predatory carnivores that are a great danger to humans.'
Reality - Given the largest shark, the whale shark, is a
plankton eater, and the Port Jackson shark has teeth
modified as crushing plates for eating invertebrates, it is
wrong to generalise about all sharks. The vast majority of
sharks are harmless to humans.
Misconception 6 - Nets are not a threat to endangered sharks
'The small number of threatened & protected grey nurse
sharks & great white sharks caught annually in the shark
meshing nets are really an insignificant number & do not
constitute a threat to their survival.'
Reality - "The grey nurse shark population is extremely
susceptible to mortality from fishing. In modelling experiments,
all the scenarios where fishing-related mortality was present,
the total grey nurse shark population declined. " Shark
meshing is gill-net fishing, and must be included in that
directive. The grey nurse shark population in eastern Australia,
the vast majority of which is found in N.S.W., is in danger of
extinction.
'The small number of threatened & protected grey nurse
sharks & great white sharks caught annually in the shark
meshing nets are really an insignificant number & do not
constitute a threat to their survival.'
Reality - "The grey nurse shark population is extremely
susceptible to mortality from fishing. In modelling experiments,
all the scenarios where fishing-related mortality was present,
the total grey nurse shark population declined. " Shark
meshing is gill-net fishing, and must be included in that
directive. The grey nurse shark population in eastern Australia,
the vast majority of which is found in N.S.W., is in danger of
extinction.
Statistics taken from: “Misconceptions about Shark Attacks and N.S.W. Shark Meshing May 2006”. John Paxton, Australian Museum, Sydney
So What Can We Do About It?
Shark nets are an out-dated, inhumane method of ‘protecting swimmers’.
This practice was implemented in the 1930’s and over the past 70 years - has never been updated to make use of harmless, modern technological devices which now exist to deter sharks.
The shark meshing program continues to kill vulnerable and endangered shark species, and indiscriminately kills other non-target species such as whales and their calves on the annual migration, dolphins, turtles and dugong. Public appeals and pressure on Government departments is the only way this process will be changed.
* Write to your local MP and express your concerns - suggest the testing and trial of modern shark deterrents, such as Shark Shield and the Shark Smart Buoys.
*Sign petitions against shark nets, as ultimately, large numbers behind these causes will generate a response.
*Educate your friends and family about what the sharks nets really do. Raise awareness about the issue.
There is no doubt that this is a political issue - however, continued pressure for the reform of this practice is our only hope of initiating change.
Shark nets are an out-dated, inhumane method of ‘protecting swimmers’.
This practice was implemented in the 1930’s and over the past 70 years - has never been updated to make use of harmless, modern technological devices which now exist to deter sharks.
The shark meshing program continues to kill vulnerable and endangered shark species, and indiscriminately kills other non-target species such as whales and their calves on the annual migration, dolphins, turtles and dugong. Public appeals and pressure on Government departments is the only way this process will be changed.
* Write to your local MP and express your concerns - suggest the testing and trial of modern shark deterrents, such as Shark Shield and the Shark Smart Buoys.
*Sign petitions against shark nets, as ultimately, large numbers behind these causes will generate a response.
*Educate your friends and family about what the sharks nets really do. Raise awareness about the issue.
There is no doubt that this is a political issue - however, continued pressure for the reform of this practice is our only hope of initiating change.
Updated 2020
