From the time I’ve been old enough to swim, I’ve been terrified of sharks. Even fishing in the lakes of Central Oregon as a child would cause me an illogical fear of the marine predators. As a result, one would think I would advocate for the voluntary killing of these terrifying and magnificent creatures, but the recent events in Western Australia have challenged me. According to CNN, the government of Western Australia has authorized a shark cull off its coast after seven people have been killed by shark attacks over the last three years. Using hooked lines attached to floating drums, the government has allowed local fishermen to even hunt the protected Great White Shark. Opponents of this shark cull cite that many of these species should remain protected, and that the government is inciting unnecessary suffering on the creatures. At the heart of this matter is the debate between human interests and environmental concerns. Sharks are a key component of the food chain, and the extermination of a species in certain areas could greatly impact biodiversity in the region. To learn more about this story, continue to read here.
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