Thousands of people have gathered on Australian beaches to protest the country's controversial shark cull.
Western Australia's government is taking the step to try to prevent attacks on swimmers which have killed six people in two years.
Opponents argue the cull will make no difference to the number of sharks and breaches international obligations to protect Great Whites.
Protesters against shark culling in the Western Australian Coast line hold up signs at Cottesloe Beach
The cull will involve 72 baited hooks close to the shore off Perth and any sharks over three metres in length will be destroyed.
Conservationists also suggest other marine life such as dolphins and turtles could suffer.
Story continues after slideshow...
Shark Cull
(01 of19)
People sit and listen to speeches during a protest against Western Australia's state government's shark killing policy on Manly beach in Sydney, Australia, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2014. The Federal government gave state authorities a special exemption from environmental laws to kill great white sharks, a protected species, in response to seven fatal shark attacks in Australia's southwest in three years. (AP Photo/Rob Griffith) (credit:AP)
(02 of19)
People hold placards and pose for photos during a protest against Western Australia's state government's shark killing policy on Manly beach in Sydney, Australia, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2014. The Federal government gave state authorities a special exemption from environmental laws to kill great white sharks, a protected species, in response to seven fatal shark attacks in Australia's southwest in three years. (AP Photo/Rob Griffith) (credit:AP)
Demonstrators Protest Against WA Shark Culling Policy(03 of19)
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 01: A protester holds signage against the catching and killing of sharks in Western Australia at Manly Beach on February 1, 2014 in Sydney, Australia. The Western Australian government has introduced a shark culling policy after a spike in shark attacks has adversely impacted the tourism sector with diving operators reporting a decrease in business by over 90 percent. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Shark Cull Protest(04 of19)
People hold placards during a protest against Western Australia's state government's shark killing policy on Manly beach in Sydney, Australia, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2014. The Federal government gave state authorities a special exemption from environmental laws to kill great white sharks, a protected species, in response to seven fatal shark attacks in Australia's southwest in three years. (AP Photo/Rob Griffith) (credit:AP)
Demonstrators Protest Against WA Shark Culling Policy(05 of19)
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 01: Protesters hold signage against the catching and killing of sharks in Western Australia at Manly Beach on February 1, 2014 in Sydney, Australia. The Western Australian government has introduced a shark culling policy after a spike in shark attacks has adversely impacted the tourism sector with diving operators reporting a decrease in business by over 90 percent. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Demonstrators Protest Against WA Shark Culling Policy(06 of19)
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 01: A protester holds signage against the catching and killing of sharks in Western Australia at Manly Beach on February 1, 2014 in Sydney, Australia. The Western Australian government has introduced a shark culling policy after a spike in shark attacks has adversely impacted the tourism sector with diving operators reporting a decrease in business by over 90 percent. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Demonstrators Protest Against WA Shark Culling Policy(07 of19)
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 01: A protester holds signage against the catching and killing of sharks in Western Australia at Manly Beach on February 1, 2014 in Sydney, Australia. The Western Australian government has introduced a shark culling policy after a spike in shark attacks has adversely impacted the tourism sector with diving operators reporting a decrease in business by over 90 percent. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Demonstrators Protest Against WA Shark Culling Policy(08 of19)
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 01: Signage against the catching and killing of sharks in Western Australia is seen at Manly Beach on February 1, 2014 in Sydney, Australia. The Western Australian government has introduced a shark culling policy after a spike in shark attacks has adversely impacted the tourism sector with diving operators reporting a decrease in business by over 90 percent. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Demonstrators Protest Against WA Shark Culling Policy(09 of19)
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 01: A woman kisses a shark plush toy in protest against the catching and killing of sharks in Western Australia at Manly Beach on February 1, 2014 in Sydney, Australia. The Western Australian government has introduced a shark culling policy after a spike in shark attacks has adversely impacted the tourism sector with diving operators reporting a decrease in business by over 90 percent. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Demonstrators Protest Against WA Shark Culling Policy(10 of19)
PERTH, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 01: A protestor displays a 'Save Bruce' shark badge during a shark-culling policy protest at Cottesloe Beach on February 1, 2014 in Perth, Australia. The Western Australian government has introduced a shark culling policy after a spike in shark attacks has adversely impacted the tourism sector with diving operators reporting a decrease in business by over 90 percent. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Demonstrators Protest Against WA Shark Culling Policy(11 of19)
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 01: Signage against the catching and killing of sharks in Western Australia is seen at Manly Beach on February 1, 2014 in Sydney, Australia. The Western Australian government has introduced a shark culling policy after a spike in shark attacks has adversely impacted the tourism sector with diving operators reporting a decrease in business by over 90 percent. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Demonstrators Protest Against WA Shark Culling Policy(12 of19)
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 01: A protester in a shark suit holds signage against the catching and killing of sharks in Western Australia at Manly Beach on February 1, 2014 in Sydney, Australia. The Western Australian government has introduced a shark culling policy after a spike in shark attacks has adversely impacted the tourism sector with diving operators reporting a decrease in business by over 90 percent. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Demonstrators Protest Against WA Shark Culling Policy(13 of19)
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 01: A protester holds signage against the catching and killing of sharks in Western Australia at Manly Beach on February 1, 2014 in Sydney, Australia. The Western Australian government has introduced a shark culling policy after a spike in shark attacks has adversely impacted the tourism sector with diving operators reporting a decrease in business by over 90 percent. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Demonstrators Protest Against WA Shark Culling Policy(14 of19)
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 01: A protester in a shark suit holds signage against the catching and killing of sharks in Western Australia at Manly Beach on February 1, 2014 in Sydney, Australia. The Western Australian government has introduced a shark culling policy after a spike in shark attacks has adversely impacted the tourism sector with diving operators reporting a decrease in business by over 90 percent. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Demonstrators Protest Against WA Shark Culling Policy(15 of19)
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 01: Protesters hold signage against the catching and killing of sharks in Western Australia at Manly Beach on February 1, 2014 in Sydney, Australia. The Western Australian government has introduced a shark culling policy after a spike in shark attacks has adversely impacted the tourism sector with diving operators reporting a decrease in business by over 90 percent. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Demonstrators Protest Against WA Shark Culling Policy(16 of19)
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 01: Protesters hold signage against the catching and killing of sharks in Western Australia at Manly Beach on February 1, 2014 in Sydney, Australia. The Western Australian government has introduced a shark culling policy after a spike in shark attacks has adversely impacted the tourism sector with diving operators reporting a decrease in business by over 90 percent. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Demonstrators Protest Against WA Shark Culling Policy(17 of19)
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 01: A protester holds signage against the catching and killing of sharks in Western Australia at Manly Beach on February 1, 2014 in Sydney, Australia. The Western Australian government has introduced a shark culling policy after a spike in shark attacks has adversely impacted the tourism sector with diving operators reporting a decrease in business by over 90 percent. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Demonstrators Protest Against WA Shark Culling Policy(18 of19)
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 01: A protester holds signage against the catching and killing of sharks in Western Australia at Manly Beach on February 1, 2014 in Sydney, Australia. The Western Australian government has introduced a shark culling policy after a spike in shark attacks has adversely impacted the tourism sector with diving operators reporting a decrease in business by over 90 percent. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Demonstrators Protest Against WA Shark Culling Policy(19 of19)
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 01: A protester in a shark suit runs in the water against the catching and killing of sharks in Western Australia at Manly Beach on February 1, 2014 in Sydney, Australia. The Western Australian government has introduced a shark culling policy after a spike in shark attacks has adversely impacted the tourism sector with diving operators reporting a decrease in business by over 90 percent. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Around 2,000 people gathered at Manly Beach in Sydney and 6,000 are expected at Cottesloe Beach in Perth.
Katherine Cook at Many Beach said: "I'm really angry and incensed that we can't coexist with anything," reports the Telegraph.
"We are going into their (sharks) environment. Why can't we coexist?"
Last month the region's acting premier said it was wrong to call it a cull, saying it was focused only on areas where the public could be in danger.
"If it were a cull we would be out catching sharks the length and breadth of the state," he said.
Tony Abbott's government has come under fire in recent weeks for its apparent lack of concern for the environment.