No Shark Cull – Plan to bring shark spotters program to Australia

While NSW authorities are busy reviewing all existing and emerging technology to mitigate shark incidents. No Shark Cull and Sea Shepherd have been given an amazing opportunity to host a field officer and the manager of Shark Spotters to come to Australia in October this year, to assess the coastlines in Western Australia’s south-west, northern New South Wales and Coolongatta in Queensland in order to ascertain whether these areas would be suited to a Shark Spotters program and to liaise with these local communities to kick start setting them up.

Shark Spotters in Cape Town, South Africa started in 2004 purely as a volunteer based shark safety programme in response to a spate of shark bite incidents and increased shark sightings. Shark spotting is now the primary shark safety programme used in Cape Town. Shark Spotters improves beach safety through both shark warnings and emergency assistance in the event of a shark incident. It contributes to research on shark ecology and behaviour, raises public awareness about shark-related issues, informs public safety policy and provides employment opportunities and skills development for Shark Spotters.

In order to have the two representatives visit Western Australia, Queensland and New South Wales we would need $8,000 to cover the costs of flights, accommodation, fuel and meals. We plan to hold at least two public presentations, which would see hall hire fees and advertising costs added into the mix.

No Shark Cull Chairperson Sharnie Connell stated that “a number of non-lethal measures are currently being reviewed by the NSW Government and the Shark Spotters program could compliment the trial of non-lethal alternatives that will be rolled out in NSW later this year”.

“It is wonderful to see the Northern NSW community coming together and setting up a shark sighting reporting system, drone surveillance and Helicopter Aerial Patrols funded by the Ballina Council and Ballina State MP Tamara Smith, A Shark Spotters program is designed to work together with existing programs to ensure that public safety, environmental conservation, public education and scientific research are all tied into together to form a comprehensive solution.”

We have currently raised $2,000 to put towards this visit, and would love your help to raise the remainder. Are you able to help the local community keep both marine and human life safe in Australia?
Please help out if you can. Every little bit helps.

To donate to this cause please go to www.nosharkcull.net

Sharnie Connell