WA has culled it's first shark. A sad day indeed.

http://www.smh.com.au/national/socia...126-31gz8.html

I agree. I read about it here in NZ, but thanks for posting.

I've got some bad news about Akaroa:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/new...d-for-drilling

Ah man, now I'm really depressed.

One step forward (Stop the Routeburn Tunnel), two steps back.

I should have said it's good news that Christchurch CC is trying to protect its Hector's Dolphins, but it's bad news they might not be able to.

New Zealanders are given more of a say as to resource consents on land, but have little say in offshore development.

Still you might be surprised by the new development in Wanaka:
http://www.odt.co.nz/news/queenstown...ment-set-begin

And the Fiordland Monorail is still being considered.

Yeah, I've been keeping an eye on the monorail debate for some time now.

Surprised to read about Wanaka though, I thought they were hell-bent on not becoming another Queenstown.

Melnq8, did you know that NZ only recently banned shark finning? (effective 2016)
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/ar...ectid=11183661
http://www.forestandbird.org.nz/camp...zealands-shame

No, I didn't know that Diamantina, wow.

In Manly (Sydney), a protest rally agajnst the WA shark cull has been organised for 11 am tomorrow (1st Feb). Beach end of the Corso.

More info - "Sydney protest against culling" on Facebook.

Lay local paper says it's one of 15 events across Australia against the cull

It's been an interesting week over here Bokhara. They suspect protesters have been removing bait from the drumlines.

I heard that - and that the
Shark they killed was a harmless, wuite endangered variety. Whether that's right or rhetoric, I don't know. Irrespective, it wasn't the shark who killed that chap.

It's an ill conceived, knee jerk reaction that none of the people who actually use the ocean want to happen. The politicians who ordered it have no qualifications or experience in shark behavior - and I think they've badly misjudged the public's temperature on the issue.

Those who do know, like Valerie Taylor, who weren't consulted, unequivocally condemn it.

God forbid the decision makers would have consulted some old hands like Valerie & the swimmers & surfers who frequent the ocean in these areas!

I just read this article:
http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/tw...131-31rqb.html
Do they intend to catch and release all the sharks?

And what's happening with all this GBR dredging?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-25974608

According to the local news, the two sharks caught today will be released Diamantina.

Just saw the GBR stuff on the news...geez what's happening here?

To expand a coal port? Coal isn't exactly the fuel of the future.

What's happening there? What's happening here in the "wildlife capital of New Zealand"? Deepwater drilling in the "roaring forties."
http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/28...nst-drill-ship

This is not good! The barrier reef is such a huge Australian landmark to rest rest of the world! I think its best not to even touch it, this will only cause huge negative media attention from around the world! As for the sharks... Its an ocean! They can come and go as they like. I think its just something that you have to live with in this part of the world!