SHARKS PLAY BIG ROLE IN HEALTHY ECOSYSTEM
WITH the recent media coverage of bait schools and sharks coming very close to some of our most popular beaches like Burleigh, and increasing number of fisherman frustrated at losing catches to the taxman (sharks) some Gold Coast fisherman are asking if the numbers of sharks is a growing concern.
After speaking to a local marine biologist, who not only studies the effects of sharks in our waters but also catches and tags them for research, I have learnt their value in maintaining a healthy ecosystem here on the Gold Coast.
In short he broke it down for me like this. If we got rid of a mass number of sharks via a cull we would see an immediate increase in the number of estuary fish caught, but the increase would be very short term and the long-term effect would be diabolic.
The estuary fish that would suddenly flourish due to their predator being eradicated would then annihilate their food source and eventually they would be annihilated too via a shortage of food.
Basically as frustrating as it is losing fish to the taxman, sharks play a vital role in maintaining a healthy ecosystem and we need them if we want long-term, sustainable fishing on the Gold Coast.