Australia to establish shark `kill zones` amid fears for safety of beaches

Written by:
Hans Kruit, 11 December 2013

Sharks longer than 10 feet which approach popular beaches on Australia's west coast will be killed under new measures following a series of fatal attacks.

The state government in Western Australia has set up "kill zones" along the coast, including baited drum lines which will be set up 0.6 mile from shore. Professional fishermen will be hired to catch and kill large sharks that enter the zone.

The controversial measures follow six deaths in two years along a coast that has been labelled the deadliest shark zone in the world. The most recent death occurred last month, when Chris Boyd, a surfer, was killed in the state's south-west. Days later, Zac Young, a 19-year-old bodyboarder, was killed on the nation's east coast.

Colin Barnett, Western Australia's state premier, said the new measures would reduce the risk of attacks but "there are still no guarantees".
"We are aware of the risks sharks pose to our beach users and the Western Australian way of life and we are implementing strategies to reduce these risks," he said.

"It is very important for [people] to always be aware of the risks of entering the water and to take responsibility for themselves."
The plan triggered an angry response from conservationists, who said it was an indiscriminate "cull". Most of the deadly attacks have been by great white sharks, which are an endangered species.

"This new cull policy amounts to indiscriminate fishing, and will not only cull potentially risky sharks, but we can expect to see dolphins, turtles, seals, nurse sharks and a range of other marine life killed off our beaches," said Piers Verstegen, the director of the state's Conservation Council.

Experts believe the increase in attacks has been caused by the growing population and the tendency of people – particularly those wearing wetsuits – to stay in the water for longer periods.
Christopher Neff, a shark researcher from Sydney University, said it was an "unfortunate policy".

"This is a tool that is used to kill sharks and to reduce populations – that is by definition culling," he said.
However, Troy Buswell, the state's fisheries minister, denied it was a "culling of sharks".
"It is not a fear-driven hunt, it is a targeted, localised shark mitigation strategy," he said.

Hans
source: The Telegraph