Great White Sharks are perceived by many as mindless killing machines, while the truth is that they are actually highly intelligent and graceful creatures that deserve our respect rather than our fear.

When we heard the news on the 27 Sep 2012 that the Western Australian government had just released a shark mitigation strategy that involved the killing of Great White Sharks if they got anywhere close to beachgoers, we felt that something needed to be done to raise awareness about the issue.
This is our first post. We’ve created an infographic and compiled a list of resources and petitions. Please get involved and help to spread the word.

Petitions

Make illegal the unprovoked killing of Great Whites

The Australian government announced that it would be hunting and killing great white sharks in their coastal waters as a preventative measure. On the same day, NOAA announced that it is likely that Great Whites are indeed an endagered species. The Great White Shark is also listed as Vulnerable to Extintion on the IUCN Red List. sign petition

Western Australian Government- Abandon your irresponsible policy to cull Great White Sharks

It is important to note that worlwide the average for shark attacks per year still remains at 5 and in Australia at 0.96 per year. The likelyhood of being attacked by any shark is extreemely low. sign petition

Stop Plan to Kill Australian Sharks

A Western Australia plan to kill Great White Sharks on sight is sparking major opposition worldwide. sign petition

Make illegal the unprovoked killing of Great Whites

The Australian government announced that it would be hunting and killing great white sharks in their coastal waters as a preventative measure.On the same day, NOAA announced that it is likely that Great Whites are indeed an endagered species. The Great White Shark is also listed as Vulnerable to Extintion on the IUCN Red List.This is an important international issue. Little is known about great white populations and many scientists suggest their species is currently vulnerable and possibly on the road to extinction. As an apex predator, the loss of such an important part of the ecosystem could result in drastic and far reaching consequences on a global scale. sign petition

The Australian Government: Stop the killing of Western Australian Great White Sharks

In response to these attacks, the Western Australian government has decided to spend A$6.85 million in an attempt to kill sharks that “pose an imminent threat” to beachgoers. Australian media often sensationalises shark attacks – making them out to be vicious, indiscriminate killers, however the statistics do not support these claims. According to The Australian Shark Attack File, in the last 50 years there have been 55 recorded unprovoked attacks, which averages at about 1.1 attacks per year. sign petition

Global Petition for Sharks

We, the undersigned, call upon the leaders of all the world’s nations to ensure the conservation and protection of our sharks. sign petition

Resources

Western Australia to kill sharks threatening beachgoers

Western Australia has set out measures aimed at reducing the risk of shark attacks at the state’s beaches, after a string of deadly incidents.
The A$6.85m ($7.12m, £4.41m) package includes funding for catching and if necessary killing sharks “posing an imminent threat” to beachgoers.
Other funding is allocated to tagging and research programmes. read more

Australia to kill sharks in bid to protect people

Western Australia officials have approved a plan to kill sharks that venture too close to people in the water.
Western Australia state Premier Colin Barnett announced the plan on Thursday following a string of deadly shark attacks off the state’s coast.
The plan is a sharp reversal of the current policy, which permits the killing of sharks only after they have attacked. read more

Kill sharks before they attack humans? Australian state will do just that

Following a record number of attacks this year, and retracting his earlier stand, the leader of a state on Australia’s west coast announced Thursday that any great white sharks seen near beachgoers would be killed in order to prevent attacks on humans.

“We will always put the lives and safety of beachgoers ahead of the shark,” Western Australia Premier Colin Barnett told ABC Radio Australia. “This is, after all, a fish — let’s keep it in perspective.” read more 

Australia to kill sharks on sight

A rise in the number of shark attacks has prompted Australia to introduce a controversial “kill on sight” policy, designed to protect beachgoers from Great Whites that get too close. read more

Great White Sharks Off Australia’s Indian Ocean…

CANBERRA, Sept 27 (Reuters) – Authorities will hunt and kill great white sharks which pose a threat to swimmers along Australia’s western Indian Ocean coastline under a new plan to protect beachgoers after five deadly attacks in the past year. read more