14 DAY TRIAL // Despite protests organized by conservationists, and also in spite of the fact that some wildlife researchers have voiced their complaints against the initiative, Western Australia has moved forward with its planned shark cull.
Thus, the drum lines intended to help fishermen catch sharks were set in place this past Saturday, and, by the looks of it, they have proven quite effective.
Local media reports say that, on Sunday, the first shark was pulled out of the water and killed.
According to Sky News, the animal was a female that measured some 3 meters (roughly 10 feet) in length, and was a representative of one of the spree species targeted by the cull.
Although the exact species to which the fish belonged has not yet been announced, word has it that the female was a tiger shark, the same source details.
The other two types of animals that are to be killed as part of this initiative to limit the number of people attacked by such animals in Western Australia's waters are white sharks and bull sharks.
The female tiger shark is said to have been pulled out of the water, and shot in the head 4 times at close range. Immediately after, its corpse was thrown overboard.
Apparently, the shark was found by the fishermen who killed it caught in drum lines set in place south of Perth, off Meelup Beach near Dunsborough.
Conservationists still say that this shark cull is by no means a good idea and claim that, rather than curbing the number of local shark attacks, the initiative might lead to more people's having close encounters with such predators.
This is because, due to the cull, an increased number of people will feel fairly confident about going for a swim in Western Australia's waters.
What's more, the Conservation Council of Western Virginia argues that the move will reflect very badly on the state's high officials, maybe even on the state itself.
“This is just going to increase the level of public opposition to the shark cull when people see images and hear stories of these sharks being culled.”
“It is certainly a sad day for our marine life and for thousands of people opposed to killing endangered sharks,” said the Council's Director, Piers Verstegen.