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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/18/shark-cull-condemned-after-attacks-fall-five-year-low
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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Western Australia shark cull condemned as futile after attacks fall | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Western | Western |
| Australia’s shark cull has been condemned as futile by international | Australia’s shark cull has been condemned as futile by international |
| experts as it emerged that attacks in Australia have fallen to their | experts as it emerged that attacks in Australia have fallen to their |
| lowest level in five years. | lowest level in five years. |
| There | There |
| were 10 shark attacks in Australian waters in 2013 – the lowest annual | were 10 shark attacks in Australian waters in 2013 – the lowest annual |
| total since nine in 2008 and lower than the 12.3 average attacks per | total since nine in 2008 and lower than the 12.3 average attacks per |
| year during the past 10 years (2003-2012), according to researchers at | year during the past 10 years (2003-2012), according to researchers at |
| the University of Florida. | the University of Florida. |
| Australia’s two fatalities in 2013 are in line with its 1.4 yearly average over the same time period. | Australia’s two fatalities in 2013 are in line with its 1.4 yearly average over the same time period. |
| George Burgess, of the university’s International Shark Attack File, who also revealed that Florida led the world in shark attacks last year with 23, said WA’s controversial shark cull would not result in fewer attacks. | George Burgess, of the university’s International Shark Attack File, who also revealed that Florida led the world in shark attacks last year with 23, said WA’s controversial shark cull would not result in fewer attacks. |
| “Even | “Even |
| if one ignores that an endangered species is involved, the archaic | if one ignores that an endangered species is involved, the archaic |
| reaction can only be characterised as revenge killings,” Burgess said. | reaction can only be characterised as revenge killings,” Burgess said. |
| “Although | “Although |
| infrequent, shark attacks are high-profile events that excite the | infrequent, shark attacks are high-profile events that excite the |
| emotions of human beings and often impact a community. | emotions of human beings and often impact a community. |
| “Killing 10 sharks after a death is not the answer as it does not result in reduced attacks.’’ | “Killing 10 sharks after a death is not the answer as it does not result in reduced attacks.’’ |
| His | His |
| comments came as more details emerged about the WA cull. Seventeen | comments came as more details emerged about the WA cull. Seventeen |
| tiger sharks have been caught on drum lines and killed, the state’s | tiger sharks have been caught on drum lines and killed, the state’s |
| Department of Fisheries said. Nine sharks have also been found dead on | Department of Fisheries said. Nine sharks have also been found dead on |
| the drum lines. | the drum lines. |
| In | In |
| total, 66 sharks have been caught – 23 in the south-west and 43 in the | total, 66 sharks have been caught – 23 in the south-west and 43 in the |
| metropolitan area. Sixty-three were tiger sharks, two were mako and one | metropolitan area. Sixty-three were tiger sharks, two were mako and one |
| was a blacktip. | was a blacktip. |
| A local contractor has disposed of 13 tiger sharks more than three | A local contractor has disposed of 13 tiger sharks more than three |
| metres in length and has released six smaller sharks since January 25. | metres in length and has released six smaller sharks since January 25. |
| Department | Department |
| crews have disposed of four tiger sharks since February 1 and released | crews have disposed of four tiger sharks since February 1 and released |
| 34, of which 28 were tagged to assist with research and shark tracking. | 34, of which 28 were tagged to assist with research and shark tracking. |
| Under | Under |
| the policy, bull, tiger and great white sharks longer than three metres | the policy, bull, tiger and great white sharks longer than three metres |
| that are caught on drum lines within one kilometre of parts of the WA | that are caught on drum lines within one kilometre of parts of the WA |
| coast are being shot dead and discarded at sea. | coast are being shot dead and discarded at sea. |
| The | The |
| WA fisheries minister, Ken Baston, said results showed the methods were | WA fisheries minister, Ken Baston, said results showed the methods were |
| working well. “We have caught and destroyed a number of large sharks | working well. “We have caught and destroyed a number of large sharks |
| within one kilometre of selected beaches at a time of year when our | within one kilometre of selected beaches at a time of year when our |
| beaches are crowded,” he said. | beaches are crowded,” he said. |
| The | The |
| ISAF acknowledged that Western Australia, with six deaths in the past | ISAF acknowledged that Western Australia, with six deaths in the past |
| four years, remained a “shark-attack hot spot”. | four years, remained a “shark-attack hot spot”. |
| Overall, | Overall, |
| in 2013 the world experienced the lowest number of shark attacks since | in 2013 the world experienced the lowest number of shark attacks since |
| 2009, although last year’s 10 fatalities were above average. | 2009, although last year’s 10 fatalities were above average. |
| The US had the most attacks, 47, but it was lower than its 2012 total of 54. | The US had the most attacks, 47, but it was lower than its 2012 total of 54. |