Thousands Protest WA Shark Kill

[icyfroth]

PROTESTERS vow that yesterday's passionate rally at Cottesloe is just the starting gun on their campaign to scrap the Barnett Government's shark catch and kill policy.

And as the Greens said their lawyers were exploring a legal challenge, acting Premier Kim Hames said the Government was unmoved by the furore and would press ahead with the plan to place 72 baited hooks off beaches from Friday.

Speaking after 4500 protesters gathered on WA's most iconic beach, Dr Hames said there would be a bigger public outcry if anyone sabotaged the drum lines.

"What . . . if someone gets taken on the Rottnest Island swim for example, or a child at Scarborough Beach? Where will their protest be then?'' he said.

Meanwhile, the Greens said their lawyers were investigating the legality of killing protected shark species.

They are also looking into so-called "irregularities" in the tender to maintain the shark drum lines, which will be deployed 1km off beaches in Perth and the South-West.

Great white, tiger and bull sharks will be shot and discarded at sea, most likely in waters past Rottnest Island. A contract to patrol the lines will be awarded to commercial fishers late this week.

Protesters said the turnout at Cottesloe indicated the level of opposition to the policy, which was ...

Sea Shepherd Australia director Jeff Hansen said: "Western Australians have spoken. It's the biggest rally I think we've ever seen in WA - and it's for sharks. People are educated and they understand the importance that sharks play in our oceans.

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They have a lot of sharks in WA, don't they?

I understand the Government's stance on wanting the beaches safe, but also understand the protesters against the shark cull.

Some shark culling has gone so far as to make certain species of shark endangered.

[the*scarlet*pimpernel]

no comment from the sock puppet?

I think hunting the big sharks is abhorrent. 
Surely shooting the sharks and leaving the carcass to rot will attrack more sharks?

They need to spend a bit of money on aerial patrols or maybe net off small areas of the swimming beaches.

I've been swimming with sharks (not intentionally) and there's been fatal and non-fatal attacks on the part of the coast I called home. Honestly, sharks scare me **bleep**less but I don't think they should be hunted.

[dskracing]

I was at Cottosloe yesterday...was a very good turn out

It is a disgusting piece of legislation and something I have come to expext from Barnett...he is a total **bleep**

[twinkles**stars]

My family are scuba divers. I never worry about sharks but I do worry about them being on the road. Sharks are in their natural terriotory...one that we invade!

[not.a.sock.puppet]

[mugssy65]

Pimpy we have arial spotter planes all summer, we are also trailing new nets over here.
I defend my right to swim...in my pool....and cull any shark that comes near!
I won't swim in their waters.

[jenni200011]

It is Absolutley ridiculous to cull sharks...We enter thier domain on our own decision..We take our chances each time we enter the beaches but no one forces us to do so..Shark netting placed around swimming areas is just awful with many of our other precious  sealife tangled up and badly injured or killed frequently...Nothing is safe from mankind..Killing the shark does not prove any thing...These animals are amazing..Imagine our planet without the awesome great white or the beautiful unique diversity of many: smaller species..Please voice objection to such madness.Shark hunts are just wrong.

[spotweldersfriend]

I'm starting to think Kim Hames is a hammerhead.

[darksideofthemoon]

Killing one shark because they believe it was the one that attacked is not a good enough reason to kill... in fact it isn't a reason at all.

When are humans going to learn to leave critters alone?  It's ignorant and  abhorrent !

[moonlyte]

I am against shark culling.