The Shark Cull

Sea Shepherd’s “THE SHARK CULL” documentary explores the Western Australian shark cull, exposing the brutal cruelty of the controversial program that took place between late January 26 2014 and 30 April 2014. The documentary features an interview with Sharon Burden (mother of Kyle Burden, tragically taken in 2011 by a White Shark), Skyler Thomas, Jeff Hansen, Nicole McLaughlin, Craig Moss and Mike Dicks – captain of the Sea Shepherd vessel “Bruce the RIB.”

Despite the harrowing footage, the millions of dollars required and the community outcry regarding this initiative, the Western Australian Government applied for a three-year extension of the program. Sea Shepherd, along with No Shark Cull Inc. The Greens (WA) and Labor (WA) played an instrumental role in the prevention of static drum lines being used after the three-month trial. By bringing transparency to effects of this program, and its failures, as well as utilising Sea Shepherd supporters to appeal against the three-year proposal, the campaign finally had a win when on 11 September 2014 the Environmental Protection Authority recommended that the program cease due to its unknown environmental impacts. In the end, the WA Government ceased its controversial drum line program.

Sea Shepherd is committed to raising awareness and transparency regarding the use of shark nets and drum lines currently being used ongoing in New South Wales and Queensland, as well as the newly formed “serious threat policy” in Western Australia which enables a shark to be hunted and killed whenever it poses a serious threat (for merely swimming in the ocean, hanging around an area for longer than the WA government would like). By raising awareness and transparency, it is hoped that the general community will again rise as one to demand non-lethal alternative techniques to shark bite mitigation, instead of 1930’s thinking. Today, we don’t have to choose between protecting human life or marine life, we can do both with modern day alternatives. Its time to do away with indiscriminate killing devices like shark nets and drum lines that merely provide a false sense of security, wiping out thousands of marine life including whales, turtles, dolphins, dugongs, rays and non target, non deemed threatening sharks.

This explosive documentary is a must see for anyone interested in the protection of sharks and marine conservation.
Please note that there are images in this documentary of sharks being shot with a powerhead and then being pulled up the ramp bleeding. Parental guidance and viewer discretion is advised.

—-

Sea Shepherd is an international, non-profit marine conservation organization that engages in direct action campaigns to defend wildlife, and conserve and protect the world’s oceans from illegal exploitation and environmental destruction.

Learn more about us: www.seashepherdglobal.org/
Support our efforts: www.seashepherdglobal.org/donate/