We are calling for the Queensland State Government to transition to non lethal alternatives to shark nets and drum lines and support public education programs on this issue.

1. The current Queensland Shark Control Program is highly environmentally destructive and does not discriminate between species. The program in Queensland has killed more than 78,000 marine animals since 1962, including several species listed as vulnerable, endangered and critically endangered.

2. The program has been implemented since 1962 and is utilising out-dated practices to mitigate shark-human encounters at popular beaches. Hundreds of scientists have spoken out over the past few years in opposition to the use of shark nets and drum lines as there is no sound scientific evidence to suggest that they reduce the risk of shark bite, and there are now several non-lethal alternatives available to replace the current devices.There has been more than a dozen reported shark bites on beaches with shark nets and drum lines, as well as one fatality.

3. The devices used in the Queensland Shark Control Program pose a direct threat to beach goers, with the risk of dislodgement of shark nets and drum lines (which caused the drowning death of a young boy in 1992 on the Gold Coast) as well as the risk to rescue crews tasked with disentangling large animals such as whales (one member of the Sea World rescue crew lost half a finger in 2015 during the rescue of a whale entangled in a shark net).

We need your help to urge the Queensland State Government to transition to non lethal alternatives and support public education programs on this issue. Please sign below and add a personal message.

You can follow the campaign to increase protection for both humans and marine life by following the Facebook page below- we would love if you added your support to this petition, and shared with friends and family! Facebook: www.facebook.com/nicolemclachlan.underthesea

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