Final signature count: 10,276

10,276 signatures toward our 30,000 goal

Shark nets are intended to keep humans safe. However, they often fall short in protecting humans from shark encounters, and they pose a great threat to marine life¹.

“The reality… is that they don’t actually cover the entire beach; the sharks can swim around and underneath them,” Vanessa Pirotta, a wildlife scientist and researcher at Macquarie University, told The Guardian². “They are outdated technology, and unfortunately there are a number of consequences to marine life.”

Many different types of whales live and swim in the waters around Australia³.

Humpback whales have been especially traumatized and devastated by shark net entanglements⁴.

But southern right whales could suffer the greatest consequences.

Only around 3,500 southern right whales are left alive in the ocean. This means that even small losses can have a tremendous impact on the resiliency of the species⁵.

In just one week during early July in Queensland, Australia, three whales got tangled up in shark nets off the coast⁶.

By contrast, technologies like acoustic pingers, drones, and catch alert drumlines are much safer for both humans and marine wildlife⁷.

Other states in Australia, including New South Wales and Western Australia, commonly employ these devices with good results. There is no longer any reason for Australian authorities to keep cruel, indiscriminate shark nets around⁸.

Sign the petition to demand the Australian government regulate the use of shark nets, and require local areas to implement other, safer shark deterrent systems!