MLSSA's secretary Dan Monceaux was invited by Sea Shepherd Adelaide to speak about the WA shark cull at the premiere of their latest documentary film, "The Shark Cull". The talk was delivered on October 26th, 2014 at the Mercury Cinema, Adelaide.

1. “The Shark Cull”
A South Australian perspective
October 2014
Dan Monceaux, Secretary
Marine Life Society of South Australia Inc.
mlssa.org.au

2. Western Australia, 2014
● Drum lines set at multiple sites in January
● Results: 172 caught, 68 killed (mostly Tiger)
● Number of attacks averted?
● Drum lines withdrawn in April (as planned)
● 3-year drum line plan withdrawn in October
● Emergency response policy established

3. Emergency response policy?
● PerthNow,
October 5, 2014

4. Who loses in a 'cull'?
● Protected shark species (Great white)
● Sharks of conservation concern (Great white,
grey nurse and hammerheads)
● Protected dolphins, whales, turtles and dugong
● Prey populations*
● Shark viewing tourism operators
...and the taxpaying public?

5. Who benefits from a 'cull'
psychologically?
● Doubters of personal shark protection strategies
● Some grieving friends/relatives of victims
● People whose fear of sharks is irrational
“It was an emotional sense of relief when I heard that two (Great white sharks) had
been caught. Yes, they are protected, but to a certain degree we need to be
protected too. I think all of those people that are saying we should not kill the sharks
should come and experience what we experienced.”
- Ross Tamlin, Esperance surfer who helped Sean Pollard following his attack.
PerthNow, October 5th 2014.

8. Fatal shark attacks in SA
Fatal shark attacks in SA

9. Who benefits from a 'cull'
financially?
● Contractors who service nets and drum lines
● Fisheries who interact with sharks
● Regional businesses which could gain from
increased surfing and spear-fishing activity
● Sea cage aquaculture operators (tuna and
kingfish)

10. Tuna & Kingfish Farming
● “White sharks are sometimes captured in tuna tow
and farm cages. Unsubstantiated reports suggest
that there may be as many as 10-20 interactions per
year; however, records are sparse and often
unobtainable.”
- FRDC workshop paper, 2002
● 'Tuna Baron' Hagen Stehr has described "shark
attacks and tuna disappearing" and has said that his
company "fought against White pointers."
- The Australian, Feb. 2010
● Image: Tuna pen and dead Great white shark, Port
Lincoln - ATRT Tuna Ranching Intelligence Unit, Nov.
2005

11. What are the alternatives?
● Increased public education efforts
● Beach patrols
● Shark tracking studies & alert systems
● Shark behavioural studies
● Creation of 'ocean pools' or netted swimming
enclosures
● Personal shark protection equipment/wetsuits

12. Personal Shark Protection

13. Personal Shark Protection

14. Personal Shark Protection

15. “The Shark Cull”
A South Australian perspective
● Stay safe,
● Respect the ocean
● and enjoy the film!
Dan Monceaux, Secretary
Marine Life Society of South Australia Inc.
mlssa.org.au