Hi, my name is Taylor, I'm 13 years old, a local Sunshine Coast, QLD, Australia resident, and very passionate about shark conservation. Help me fight to save our local wildlife by saying "no" to shark nets and drumlines as they are very ineffective, unsustainable, not eco-friendly on our local wildlife, and don't protect swimmers and provide us with false security.

Shark nets and drumlines (The Shark Control Program) are placed on beaches across NSW and QLD in Australia to help "protect" beach users, shark nets are 124-186m long with only 6-4m of depth and are placed in 12m of body water with a gill nets size of 50cm. Scientific evidence has shown that the sharks have a 96% chance of making it to the beach because they are able to swim under or around the nets. A drumline is a buoy that is attached with a line and a baited hook, and its goal is to hook targeted species of unwanted sharks. Although they are meant to keep beach users safe... they don't, they are false security and have been since 1935. 

Last October I witnessed first-hand a whale entanglement in Noosa Main Beach (Sunshine Coast, QLD, AUS) shark nets. The baby whale calf was very lucky as it got freed (still had multiple buoys and rope attached) after a long 12 hours wrapped in the control program. However other migrating humpback whales that got caught in the Shark Control Program last whale season weren't as lucky. This is another massive reason why we must find other ways to co-exist with our local and migrating marine life. 

One of my favourite alternative solutions is a non-lethal, eco-friendly and effective barrier to replace the nets and drumlines is called a "Eco Shark Barrier". This barrier has been installed at Coogee Beach, NSW, Sorrento Beach, WA and Cottesloe Beach, WA (Australia). This article (https://www.ecosharkbarrier.com.au/?p=390 comments by Mayor Phil Angers (Town of Cottesloe) about the increase in tourism due to the Eco Shark Barrier installation.

The main advantage of this solution is that it is a physical barrier that the community can visually see separating them from bigger species such as sharks. It also goes from the waterline to the sea floor, unlike the traditional shark nets which are placed in a body of water 12 metres deep, only covering half the depth (6 metres) allowing bigger specifies to travel under and around the nets. The non-lethal barrier installed in Cottesloe Beach was 310 metres in length, this solution could be replicated on Noosa Main Beach which is approximately 500 metres long.

Overall, it is extremely important to get rid of the shark nets and drumlines and get them out of the water. We can REPLACE them with a more effective, non-lethal and eco-friendly alternative, that will keep us all safe! Please help by signing this petition and sharing it with your friends and family. Also, help me by educating people... and making this problem a conversation. Education is key to success and fixing this problem! Also by you signing this petition, I will be able to approach decision makers and show them that we are ready for change.

#LETSCOEXIST #NETSOUTNOW