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Hundreds of the world's top marine scientists and researchers are calling on a provincial Australian government to stop its shark catch and kill policy, local media reported Friday.
Western Australia's Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) is assessing a proposed three-year extension of the program, but more than 250 marine experts argue that there is no evidence it is making beachgoers safer.
One of the protestors is U.S. marine biologist Dr Elliott Norse, who has worked for several presidents and advised president Barack Obama to preserve parts of the Pacific Ocean.
"I think killing sharks is not a good idea," Norse told the Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC).
"I think killing apex predatory sharks like tiger sharks is a terrible idea."
The state government introduced the policy of setting baited drum lines off Perth beaches following an increase in fatal shark attacks in the past 10 years.
But scientist Professor Jessica Meeuwig said Hawaii was an example of drum lines having no effect on safety.
"In Hawaii, they spent 16 years killing tiger sharks through a hook and line program very similar to what we're doing. And it had no impact on the number of incidents with sharks," she said.
The WA government said it based its policy on Queensland's use of drum lines, where there has been only one fatal attack at a controlled beach since 1961.
Fisheries Minister Ken Baston said Queensland record's shows that the method protects swimmers.
"I've said to various people that may knock it, what value do they put on human life?" he said.
Since 1962, the Queensland government has also been using nets to protect swimmers -- something that WA decided against.
Professor Meeuwig said that was a critical difference.
"If you look at the locations that are only protected by drum lines, so leaving nets aside, again there's no evidence that we've had improved safety outcomes from killing 1,000 sharks a year," she said.
