You in all probability would n’t await an creature conservation group to corrupt an Australian shark sportfishing license , but that ’s exactly what the World Wildlife Fund ( WWF ) are planning .
The holder of the “ N4 license ” has the right to drag a 1.2 kilometer ( 0.75 miles ) net anywhere along the duration of the Great Barrier Reef so as to target shark and gray mackerel . WWF Australiais seeking contribution to traverse the price of purchasing the $ 100,000 licenses . By purchase a license , the WWF hopes to take it out of circulation and crawl in it .
you may donate directly to this WWF Shark Net investment firm byclicking here .
There are a total of five N4 licenses uncommitted in Queensland , Australia . The original plan was to purchase just one of these licenses . However , the WWF released an update today saying : “ We ’ve been blown off by your support ! So dandy tidings … we’re increasing our target so we can buy two licence . That ’s two net off our Reef forever . ”
The WWF has argue against the introduction of these licence since the get - go . Now it ’s more important than ever , with shark catches on the Reef resurrect from 222 metric ton ( 244 tons ) in 2014 to 402 tonnes ( 442 lashings ) in 2015 . As a direct result of this , the Reef is suffering from a huge decline in shark mintage , along with prejudicious number of dugong , turtles , and dolphins .
“ This is an opportunity for masses to help stop a monolithic 1.2 km long net from sit around in Reef waters and randomly killing almost everything that drown into it , ” WWF - Australia conservation director Gilly Llewellyn say ina statement .
“ These enormous nets kill tens of 1000 of juvenile sharks each yr , including hammerheads , which are listed internationally as endangered . Hammerhead numbers racket have crashed in Queensland , possibly by 80 percent . "
But the force of this on shark and other nautical animate being is only half the narration . Astudy from 2013pointed out that declining numbers of shark , the apex predator of that ecosystem , has a staggeringly detrimental essence all the way down the food mountain chain , finally set ashore heavily on the coral reefs .
“ This will keep at least 10,000 shark each twelvemonth , prevent dugongs , turtle and dolphin being obliterate as bycatch , and aid the Reef heal after the high-risk coral bleaching in its account , ” Llewellyn added .
