Does the culling of sharks really prevent shark
attacks?

And are there alternative methods that would be
better - such as shark spotting using beach
surveillance and shark awareness programs?

The following link from the RSPCA - might help
towards a better understanding:

http://kb.rspca.org.au/what-is-the-rspca-position-on-the-culling-of-sharks-to-reduce-shark-attacks_561.html

//A shark fishing industry, to harvest its oil, was once very active in this country.//

Jesus, really? I'm glad that died out; I'd never heard of shark oil before and had to google it. Turns out shark oil is snake oil. Thank god we've got proper medication these days and don't need to rely on quackery.

//Less fish, a product of over fishing? is driving sharks toward people in the water.//

Well it's an interesting conjecture... but seeing as shark are fish and their populations have declined along with those of other fish because of over fishing, I reckon there's still plenty for them to eat.

Bear in mind that sharks don't really seem to like eating people. Which makes sense; we're not fish, they're not going to be well adapted to eating land-based mammals. And we don't seem to be all that appetising to them, because they rarely take more than one bite. It's hypothesised that they bite mostly out of curiosity, discover they don't like the taste, and swim off. Obviously, if it's a large shark, that one bite can really f^&k you up.

//Bit surprising any one has not noted the increase in shark attacks//

Yeah, maybe you just naturally gravitate towards the stories and pay them more attention than most of us? Are you by any chance selachophobic?

//They make more room on waves where surfies are breeding too fast.//

Gross... don't public indecency laws outlaw that sort of thing?

One thing stands out when the do-gooders make suggestions.
The suggestions cost a lot of money.
Now either those people who don't want sharks killed/culled, have far too much time on their hands to come out in the sharks defense, or they must be very wealthy.
Anyone who argues saving the sharks 'at any cost', can pay for it themselves.
A big problem about the tree huggers and the like, they do not consider ALL the implications and ramifications of their very narrow, naive views.
It is absolute lunacy to not try to do everything possible to eradicate any and all threats to human life.
What hypocrites, these same people will not bat an eyelid if thousands of humans get killed in wars, or if one gets killed by a shark.
Yet suggest killing that same shark and you are immediately set upon.
If the RSPCA are so concerned about some damn sharks, fine let them pay to have them stop killing humans.
Until then I say to them and their followers, STFU, real people don't want to hear your bleeding heart stories unless you agree to prioritising people and not animals.

You can't hang a shark . The noose slips.

ALTRAV,

Dismissing someone else's opinion does not make your
own more valid. Instead it dismisses your value as
a discussion participant.