TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Approximately 667 sharks were killed in a Queensland's control program last year, which was intended to protect human from the uncontrollable shark population, but conservationists argued that the program was working.
Queensland is the only jurisdiction that uses shark nets and drums lines. In the 12 months to August, 667 sharks including endangered species such as the great white and grey nurses were killed, figures from the Fisheries Department revealed.
Conservationists argued there was no evidence that killing so many animals protected humans but the department said human safety comes first and the program, which has been running for half a century, will continue.
On the other hand, Queensland’s Department of Fisheries sees the program as a success because only one person has been killed by a shark on a controlled beach since it has been running.
"We use acoustic alarms on the nets to warn off dolphins and whales; we have marine release teams in the Gold, Sunshine Coasts and Mackay who are trained to release by-catch animals," Fisheries spokesman Jeff Krause said as quoted by ABC.net.au.
Krause further added that many animals caught on the net do not die.
Nets are checked every two days so animals can be released and 100 per cent of whales and 93 per cent of turtles were successfully released alive last year.
ABC Australia
