Remove the nets

Shark nets around the coast of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, are respoinsible for the indescriminate slaughter of many marine animals including turtles, whales and dolphins.  Over 30,000 sharks have drowned in these nets over the last 30 years, including over 1,000 endangered great white sharks, and considerably more smaller species that pose little threat to swimmers.  Animals that become entangled in the nets suffer a slow death as they drown.

In total nearly 50,000 animals have died in these nets designed to protect swimmers from sharks, but in this day and age when we know so much more about these declining species is this cost worth it?  Other measures to reduce the risk of shark attack are already practiced elsewhere in the world that do not result in this slaughter of marine life.

These nets DO NOT prevent sharks reaching the beachs, 40% of sharks that are trapped and drown in these nets are heading away from the beach having swam under or over the nets earlier.  Satelite tracking surveys have shown that sharks, including great whites, swim the waters right beneath bathers without ever attacking.  No one even knew they were there until the tracking data revealed this.   

Sharks around the world are in decline, in general they are slow to mature and produces only a few young each time.  These loses in nets to give a sense of security from something that poses only a very small risk are a needless waste.

Make a stand against the shark nets, sign the petition here - http://www.removethenets.com/sign-the-petition  

The website also gives a lot more information on the damage that shark nets are doing to marine life.