Keeping the pressure up on issues from the dangers of shark nets to whaling Captain of the marine conservation yacht Migaloo 2, Dean Jefferys, is heading to the Quicksilver Pro Surfing competition at Coolangatta next week along with other marine conservationists to hold up remove shark net banners to the media and the thousands of surfers present. Jefferys is hoping that the action will start some informed debate around the issue.
‘Shark nets do not offer the safety from sharks as they profess and the cost to tax payers and marine life of those nets are unacceptable,’ said Jefferys. ‘Much more effective alternative technologies exist that make the public safer without the potential dangers to other marine life, such as spotters programs, personal repellents, sonar, shark tagging, education and using a drone for spotting.’
In the mean time Migaloo 2 is getting prepared to join the humpback whale migration in July. To raise funds for repairs and maintenance Jefferys is having the annual launch and fundraiser night for Maigaloo 2 at the new Vegan restaurant Elixiba in Byron at 7 pm 27 March. Fifty per cent of proceeds of the night and 100% of the silent auction proceeds will go to the Migaloo 2 foundation to pay for urgent boat maintenance and repairs including replacing the motor.
Jefferys will show some short films of campaigns he has been involved in over the last seven years as well as some new exciting ones coming up including shark net protests, Shark Watch and Antarctic Whaling. He will also talk briefly on his new documentary The Toad, the Whale and the Sun. Part of the night live streamed from 8.30 pm.
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