Sharks To Cull Humans Off Western Australia . . Adequate Barrier Reef . . . .
Sharks to begin human cull off the Western Australian coast
Environment, Politics By The Skewer
Australia’s sharks are planning to begin culling humans off the Western Australian coast. The cull, slated to occur in areas where human attacks on sharks have been the most frequent, is aimed at protecting sharks in some of their favourite habitats.
Sharks say the cull is in response to an increase in the number of human attacks in recent days. In the most recent attack a shark was caught on a bait line and then shot in the head four times by a pack of humans.
“Too many sharks have been killed enjoying the beautiful coastline we have here in W.A” said high profile shark Bruce.
“We believe sharks should be able swim here without fear of being brutally attacked,” Bruce said.
Humans over 1.5 metres who enter designated ‘kill zones’ along the Western Australian coast will be targeted by professional great white sharks in a trial to begin in the next few days.
Human scientists have predicted that 73 million sharks are killed each year in violent human attacks. Sharks are then used in soup or deep fried in batter; a fact which has caused outrage in the close knit shark community.
“I don’t want my 17 kids growing up to be part of a $15 fisherman’s basket special” spokesshark Bruce said.
In related news, shark nutritionists have reclassified humans as a junk food due to an increase in their average fat content. Humans have been moved to the top of the healthy eating pyramid and it is now advised that sharks eat humans ‘in small amounts’ only.
http://www.theskewer.com.au/2014/01/shark-cull/
-----------------------------------------------
Government: “An Adequate Barrier Reef would be good enough”
Environment, Politics By The Skewer
The Abbott government has launched an “efficiency review” into the Great Barrier Reef - a move that will exacerbate the already extraordinary pressure on the World Heritage Site. Announcing the review today, Environment Minister Greg Hunt asked whether “Australia can really afford to support a Great Barrier Reef when an Adequate Barrier Reef would be good enough.”
Mr Hunt said that while the Government respected the national treasure, he was certain that it could fulfil its purpose of protecting the Queensland coastline and attracting tourists in a more efficient manner.
“I mean it has 900 islands and it is over 2,900 kilometres long. We’ve got to ask ourselves if all of this is really necessary.” Mr Hunt said.
“It is a huge organism that has become bloated and inefficient, I know savings could be made.” Mr Hunt said.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott said the study would assess whether the Great Barrier Reef was meeting coral production targets and stopping its quota of boats.
The World Heritage Site is under stress from agricultural run-off, rising sea temperatures and increased industrial activity such as the recently approved Abbot Point dredging project. The U.N has listed the reef as ‘threatened’.
Mr Abbott said that although he was aware the reef was in decline, he wouldn’t bail out the natural wonder.
“Our message is clear; nature needs to get its own house in order before it can expect Government assistance.” he said.
“This is a Government that will make sure that the restructure that nature needs… is led by nature” Mr Abbott said.
“The environment, just like any other sector, needs to adjust to changing environmental circumstances.” he added.
Mr Abbott said he wouldn’t rule out privatising the Barrier Reef and pointed to the recent decision to dump dredge waste on the Reef as a good example of how the Reef could broaden its range of operations and deliver cost savings through natural attrition.
http://www.theskewer.com.au/2014/01/adequate-barrier-reef-would-be-good-enough/
Environment, Politics By The Skewer
Australia’s sharks are planning to begin culling humans off the Western Australian coast. The cull, slated to occur in areas where human attacks on sharks have been the most frequent, is aimed at protecting sharks in some of their favourite habitats.
Sharks say the cull is in response to an increase in the number of human attacks in recent days. In the most recent attack a shark was caught on a bait line and then shot in the head four times by a pack of humans.
“Too many sharks have been killed enjoying the beautiful coastline we have here in W.A” said high profile shark Bruce.
“We believe sharks should be able swim here without fear of being brutally attacked,” Bruce said.
Humans over 1.5 metres who enter designated ‘kill zones’ along the Western Australian coast will be targeted by professional great white sharks in a trial to begin in the next few days.
Human scientists have predicted that 73 million sharks are killed each year in violent human attacks. Sharks are then used in soup or deep fried in batter; a fact which has caused outrage in the close knit shark community.
“I don’t want my 17 kids growing up to be part of a $15 fisherman’s basket special” spokesshark Bruce said.
In related news, shark nutritionists have reclassified humans as a junk food due to an increase in their average fat content. Humans have been moved to the top of the healthy eating pyramid and it is now advised that sharks eat humans ‘in small amounts’ only.
http://www.theskewer.com.au/2014/01/shark-cull/
-----------------------------------------------
Government: “An Adequate Barrier Reef would be good enough”
Environment, Politics By The Skewer
The Abbott government has launched an “efficiency review” into the Great Barrier Reef - a move that will exacerbate the already extraordinary pressure on the World Heritage Site. Announcing the review today, Environment Minister Greg Hunt asked whether “Australia can really afford to support a Great Barrier Reef when an Adequate Barrier Reef would be good enough.”
Mr Hunt said that while the Government respected the national treasure, he was certain that it could fulfil its purpose of protecting the Queensland coastline and attracting tourists in a more efficient manner.
“I mean it has 900 islands and it is over 2,900 kilometres long. We’ve got to ask ourselves if all of this is really necessary.” Mr Hunt said.
“It is a huge organism that has become bloated and inefficient, I know savings could be made.” Mr Hunt said.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott said the study would assess whether the Great Barrier Reef was meeting coral production targets and stopping its quota of boats.
The World Heritage Site is under stress from agricultural run-off, rising sea temperatures and increased industrial activity such as the recently approved Abbot Point dredging project. The U.N has listed the reef as ‘threatened’.
Mr Abbott said that although he was aware the reef was in decline, he wouldn’t bail out the natural wonder.
“Our message is clear; nature needs to get its own house in order before it can expect Government assistance.” he said.
“This is a Government that will make sure that the restructure that nature needs… is led by nature” Mr Abbott said.
“The environment, just like any other sector, needs to adjust to changing environmental circumstances.” he added.
Mr Abbott said he wouldn’t rule out privatising the Barrier Reef and pointed to the recent decision to dump dredge waste on the Reef as a good example of how the Reef could broaden its range of operations and deliver cost savings through natural attrition.
http://www.theskewer.com.au/2014/01/adequate-barrier-reef-would-be-good-enough/