A LEADING Gold Coast conservationist says she will starve herself to death unless the Queensland Government removes all shark nets along the state’s beaches.

But the extreme threat has been criticised as “emotional blackmail” and an “adult tantrum” that could do her cause more harm than good.

Nicole McLachlan, 25, will begin her hunger strike on Saturday and says she will only stop once the government commits to removing all shark nets this year and all drum lines within five years.

media_camera Conservationist Nicole McLachlan says she will go on a hunger strike until the Gold Coast’s shark nets and drum lines are removed.

This comes as she launches her confronting documentary Strike today which shows what she says are the devastating effects shark nets and drum lines have on local marine life.

“The most disturbing thing I saw was a dolphin calf trapped on the drum line,” the Burleigh Heads resident said. “She was gut-hooked so it was inside her chest cavity.

“The saddest part was that the mother was still with the baby as she was trapped ... it was just off The Spit.”

Ms McLachlan has studied marine science at university and worked for leading organisations including the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society.

Filmed over the past 18 months, she said her film outlined her campaign to end Queensland’s “lethal and outdated” shark control program.

media_camera Nicole McLachlan with a turtle.

“I have seen the destruction that has been caused to the environment, with thousands of endangered marine animals becoming caught by shark nets and drum lines, which don’t discriminate between species,” she said.

“Drum lines and shark nets have come to symbolise the idea of fear around swimming in the ocean, but their use is outdated.

“These nets should be removed as soon as possible so that we can move forward to implement new technology and work to protect marine life as well as humans.”

Non-lethal alternatives include shark-spotter programs which she said had already been successfully implemented in Cape Town, South Africa, or eco shark barriers, currently being trialled in Ballina, as well as public education programs and technology such as detection buoys and personal deterrents devices.

media_camera Nicole McLachlan and a whale shark.

Ms McLachlan said she would refuse all food and drink with the exception of water until the policy changes and commitments were met.

She said she would live stream from Gold Coast beaches from Rainbow Bay through to The Spit to explain her stand.

“A hunger strike is an extreme measure but with hundreds of scientists now speaking out against drum lines and shark nets I am confident that both the Australian public and decision makers will take notice and support the suggestions I am making for policy change,” she said.

Psychologist Doctor Bob Montgomery said although it was a good cause, it wasn’t worth Ms McLachlan risking her health.

“I think the way she is going about it is just a distraction,” he said.

“No government should be deciding on a basis of emotional blackmail.

media_camera Nicole McLachlan swims with a turtle.

“I don’t think that really serves anyone’s cause, it’s not going to convince the ordinary voters that it’s an issue they want to take up or state MPs.

“It’s like an adult tantrum.

Ms McLachlan’s documentary is backed by industry heavyweights including Greenpeace co-founder and Sea Shepherd Conservation Society founder Paul Watson, ‘Shark Girl’ Madison Stewart, pro surfer David Rastovich and Humpbacks and High-Rises chief scientist, Olaf Meynecke.

Ms McLachlan said that since the implementation of Queensland’s current shark control program in 1962, more than 84,000 marine animals had been killed after becoming entangled by nets and hooks.

However, Queensland shark control program manager Jeff Krause said the nets were proven deterrents and human safety was paramount.

“From time to time there are calls from some people to remove shark nets or drumlins from our beaches, but human safety must come first and that’s why we’re committed to this program,” he said.

In that same time period, no one had been killed by a shark off a netted Gold Coast beach.