2018/17: Should sharks be culled off the Whitsundays on the central Queensland coast?
Introduction to the media issue
Video clip at right: On September 24, 2018, 9 News televised a report detailing the controversy surrounding the killing of sharks in Cid Harbour, Whitsunday Island, following attacks on September 19 and September 20.What they said...
'We have another grieving family in Australia due to a fatal shark attack. I think that's unacceptable. I think it's time for action.' Keith Pitt, NLP Member for Hinkler and former assistant trade and tourism minister
'These long term declines put the dire situation for sharks into perspective and every effort must be put in place to protect sharks not kill them'
Nicola Beynon, Head of Campaigns at Humane Society International
The issue at a glance
On November 9, 2018, Queensland's Tourism Minister, Kate Jones, and Fisheries Minister, Mark Furner, met with local tourism operators, marine experts and the Whitsundays council to hold emergency discussions regarding the shark problem in the area.
On the same day, the NLP Member for Hinkler and former assistant trade and tourism minister, Keith Pitt, called for an immediate cull. Pitt demanded contractors be given an open permit to hunt sharks, which later could be cut back once the shark population had been reduced.