Drum line (shark control)
A drum line is an unmanned aquatic trap used to lure and capture large sharks using baited hooks.
[1][2][3][4][5] The topic of shark culling became an international controversy and sparked public demonstrations and vocal opposition, particularly from environmentalists, animal welfare advocates and ocean activists.
Since the objective of the drum line is to prevent sharks from approaching popular beaches (and not to attract them) only about 500 grams of bait is added to each hook.
In the New South Wales North Coast SMART drumline trial (Australia) 99% of targeted sharks and 98% of other animals caught were released alive.
"[35] Jessica Morris of Humane Society International says, "sharks are top order predators that play an important role in the functioning of marine ecosystems.
"[36] Drum lines have been claimed to be an ineffective strategy to keep people safe, while simultaneously resulting in the death of thousands of sharks and other wildlife in the marine ecosystem.
[33][37] Western Australia Fisheries Minister Dave Kelly said "there is currently no scientific evidence to show that drumlines reduce the risk of a [shark] attack".
The state’s shark control policy has captured over 5,000 turtles, 1,014 dolphins, nearly 700 dugongs and 120 whales, all of which are federally protected marine species.
[47] The NSW prawn trawling industry alone results in 64 tonne of shark as bycatch each year,[48] with two thirds dying.
[49] Tuna and swordfish longline fishing off the coast of South Africa reported 39,000 to 43,000 sharks died each year between 1995 and 2005.
[49] Sharksavers estimates that in total 50 million sharks are caught unintentionally each year as bycatch by the commercial fishing industry.
[50] There is also evidence of dolphins stealing bait on numerous occasions, thus rendering the drum lines useless.
In Reunion, fishermen usually attend the drum lines within 90 minutes of an alert and 90 per cent of animals caught on the hooks survive.
In addition, the tagged sharks provide an alert to the community if they pass within range of a series of listening stations located along the coast.
[60] In August 2018 a 12-month trial of "SMART" drumlines along Western Australia's South West coast, near Gracetown was announced.
"[63] On the 17 January 2019 the Environmental Protection Authority of Western Australia determined that the "SMART" drumline trial would have minimal impact on the environment and therefore did not warrant a formal assessment.
[64] Prior to 2014, drum lines were only utilised on Australia's eastern coast and in South Africa where the numbers of attacks reduced dramatically.
The policy has been the subject of national and international protests, coming under fire from marine conservationists and animal welfare advocates and their supporters.
[19] Drum lines have been criticised on animal rights grounds, not only for their negative effect on the environment and the mortality of endangered species, but also for their non-scientific and speciesist approach.
