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Australians 'ready to kill' school of great white sharks off beaches in New South Wales | |
(about 5 hours later) | |
Australians are threatening to take the law into their own hands and start killing several great white sharks terrorising the beaches of a local resort. | Australians are threatening to take the law into their own hands and start killing several great white sharks terrorising the beaches of a local resort. |
Several of the animals have started appearing on the New South Wales coast, where residents are demanding government action after a series of serious attacks which have apparently deterred tourists and people living in the area from going into the waters. | Several of the animals have started appearing on the New South Wales coast, where residents are demanding government action after a series of serious attacks which have apparently deterred tourists and people living in the area from going into the waters. |
At least 12 shark attacks have been reported this year, with five to seven great white sharks reportedly identified as swimming in the area’s waters regularly. | At least 12 shark attacks have been reported this year, with five to seven great white sharks reportedly identified as swimming in the area’s waters regularly. |
Now residents of Byron, Ballina, Evans Head shires have warned drastic action may be necessary to prevent the area’s beaches becoming deserted. | Now residents of Byron, Ballina, Evans Head shires have warned drastic action may be necessary to prevent the area’s beaches becoming deserted. |
After a residents' meeting earlier this week, Don Munro, a community representative, said 95 per cent of them voted in favour of killing the sharks under a controlled management plan, reports the Daily Mail. | After a residents' meeting earlier this week, Don Munro, a community representative, said 95 per cent of them voted in favour of killing the sharks under a controlled management plan, reports the Daily Mail. |
He told the newspaper: “We’ve had 12 attacks, one fatal and two near fatal. | He told the newspaper: “We’ve had 12 attacks, one fatal and two near fatal. |
“The majority call – it’s not my call I speak for the group – is that we cull or manage a couple of those sharks or all seven of them.” | “The majority call – it’s not my call I speak for the group – is that we cull or manage a couple of those sharks or all seven of them.” |
The calls for action come after photos appearing to be of a huge tiger shark’s dead body surfaced on Facebook, showing the animal on board a fishing boat in Nine Mile Reef in northern New South Wales. | The calls for action come after photos appearing to be of a huge tiger shark’s dead body surfaced on Facebook, showing the animal on board a fishing boat in Nine Mile Reef in northern New South Wales. |
Many local residents reportedly do not want to kill the sharks but have been left feeling desperate and frightened because no other urgent action is being taken. | Many local residents reportedly do not want to kill the sharks but have been left feeling desperate and frightened because no other urgent action is being taken. |
It is understood that many residents would be in favour of sonar detection devices being installed at the area’s beaches to reassure residents and tourists – a process which could take many months. | It is understood that many residents would be in favour of sonar detection devices being installed at the area’s beaches to reassure residents and tourists – a process which could take many months. |
“We’re a tourist destination and it’s imperative we have tourists, our livelihood depends on them,” Mr Munro told the Daily Mail. “We’re surfers, we love the ocean, we respect it’s their [the sharks’] domain but in this case when they’re killing and attacking us we feel that until we get those permanent devices in place we need this small management plan.” | “We’re a tourist destination and it’s imperative we have tourists, our livelihood depends on them,” Mr Munro told the Daily Mail. “We’re surfers, we love the ocean, we respect it’s their [the sharks’] domain but in this case when they’re killing and attacking us we feel that until we get those permanent devices in place we need this small management plan.” |
He added: “A cull is not a positive, it's come about through sheer frustration and sheer fear.” | He added: “A cull is not a positive, it's come about through sheer frustration and sheer fear.” |
David Wright, Ballina Shire Mayor, told the newspaper he did not support a cull of the sharks but said a short-term solution had to be found. | David Wright, Ballina Shire Mayor, told the newspaper he did not support a cull of the sharks but said a short-term solution had to be found. |
In February, surfer Tadashi Nakahara was killed by a shark at a beach near Ballina. | In February, surfer Tadashi Nakahara was killed by a shark at a beach near Ballina. |
Matthew Lee, a bodyboarder, is still in hospital after he was attacked by a great white shark there in July. | Matthew Lee, a bodyboarder, is still in hospital after he was attacked by a great white shark there in July. |
In the same month, surfer Craig Ison was injured when he was attacked by a shark at Evans Head. | In the same month, surfer Craig Ison was injured when he was attacked by a shark at Evans Head. |
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