Thursday, 14 December 2017 

Ray caught in shark nets off Ballina, NSW

Sea Shepherd Apex Harmony QLD Coordinator Jonathan Clark stated, “I am out here on-board Sea Shepherd’s Grey Nurse small boat off Ballina, monitoring the shark meshing nets this morning and found 5 beautiful, harmless rays, some dead and others desperately clinging for life. I contacted DPI and their response was you know the legislation around shark nets, in other words, tamper with them and you get a $22,000 fine.”

“Sea Shepherd and the rays had to wait considerable time for the shark net contractor to arrive. Unfortunately the toll was 3 dead and luckily 2 were able to be released alive. All Sea Shepherd is asking is to free these animals when Government assistance is not available in an effort to save their lives, however the QLD and NSW governments say no,” said Mr Clark.

Sea Shepherd's Managing Director Jeff Hansen stated, “Sea Shepherd upholds laws and works with many governments around the world in protecting marine life.  In Australia however, it’s quite the opposite with both the NSW Liberal Government and QLD Labor Governments continuing to support these curtains of death off our coast.  These nets are not a barrier and simply wipe out our precious marine life including whales, dolphins, sharks, turtles and rays, with well over 95% of the animals caught being non target species.”

“The recent Senate Enquiry into shark mitigation recommends that these 1930’s indiscriminate, non barrier, false sense of security, curtains of death be scrapped. It’s time that the NSW Liberal and QLD Labor Governments came out of the dark ages and stopped their assault on Australia’s marine life, for it has no good reason other than to appease the Murdoch media and nature haters of this world.” said Mr Hansen.

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