Another Ballina shark attack, Premier Baird promises shark nets
All beaches in the Ballina Shire on the far north coast of New South Wales have been closed for 24 hours after a man received minor injuries in a shark attack.
The State Government has caved into pressure to bring in shark nets on the far north coast of New South Wales after an attack on a surfer there earlier today.
All beaches in the Ballina Shire will be closed for 24 hours after a man received minor injuries in a shark attack.
A 25-year-old man was surfing with friends at Sharpes Beach this morning when a shark knocked him off his board and bit him on his lower right leg.
He told police he felt something bump his board before he fell into the water.
The man paddled back to shore with a small bite wound before his friends took him to Ballina Hospital for medical treatment.
Scott Crump, who was in the water at Sharpes Beach when the attack happened and witnessed the incident, said the victim was lucky to be alive.
He said the man's surfboard took the impact of the attack, saving his life.
Mr Crump said the surfer had a deep cut to his leg.
"He only really had one wound that looked almost like a stab wound and there was a fair bit of blood," he said.
"He was pretty strong, I was kind of surprised because when I asked him how he was, he looked at me, looked down and looked at me and gave me a thumps up."
Following today's attack, Premier Mike Baird announced the Government would move to trial shark nets on the far north coast.
The Government has previously rolled out a suite of other shark detection measures, but has spent more than a year resisting calls for traditional shark nets.
Today, Mr Baird said the Government wanted to keep swimmers safe.
"There are extraordinary circumstances that have happened there, we have to respond," Mr Baird said.
"We will be responding, which is why we will be writing and asking the Federal Government, which we've already been engaging on this issue [with], to trial for six months nets across those far north coast beaches."
"The sentiment in that local community has shifted, it was against nets, no doubt about it."
"The recent attacks have started to shift that and there was a mood and a change within that community."
The surfers board with bite marks (Facebook)
Shark bites into surfboard
Police are interviewing the surfer to try to determine what shark attacked him.
The shark left several bite marks on his surfboard.
Two weeks ago, 17-year-old surfer, Cooper Allan was mauled by a great white off Ballina's Lighthouse beach.
Beaches were closed for 24 hours in the wake of that attack.
PHOTO: Sharpes Beach is closed for 24 hours after a shark attack. (Supplied: Surf Life Saving NSW)
A statement from Surf Life Saving NSW said the man was surfing with a group of people at the popular location shortly after midday.
The statement said people have been advised to avoid Sharpes Beach and lifeguards remain in the area to warn beachgoers.
"Lifeguard assets including a jet ski from nearby Lennox Head are currently conducting a sweep of the area," the statement said.
"The species of the shark involved is not known and the matter has been referred to the NSW Department of Primary Industries for further investigation.
"A decision on when to reopen the beaches will be made tomorrow in consultation with all stakeholders."
The NSW Department of Primary Industries was investigating the attack and shark biologists will examine bite marks to the surfer's board.
// © Australian Broadcasting Corporation. All rights reserved.
Comments
Yikes.
If anywhere in Australia should have a management plan that is not half-arsed, it's there. And yet they just stand around and argue about stuff, of which, they know very little.
Faaark - this really is getting a little silly.
Come on Andy ,your not getting worried now surely?Mate its been a little silly for 12 months.
What I don't get is, there are shark reports up and down the coast from the shark spotters etc. Why is it only around the Greater Ballina area where there are ïnteractions"?
A bit of eye candy not.....
check the mouth size,Mr Lucky...
http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/surfer-at-ballina-lucky-to-escape-ser...
Shark spotters... pffft. Let's say it's a 15 minute loop to check all the beaches. A bitey can cover a fair bit of ground in that time. If it's an opportunistic ambush attack he could easily make his way in and have a go, all between patrols.
It's interesting that the two most sharky spots (attacks-wise) in Australia have a resident group and local govt that is weakest on the sort of actions required to maximise human safety.
State gov allocated 16 million to help prevent shark attacks....mmm..not working....be better off channeling some money to guys who are trying to develop deterrents like Chillax wax or Shark shield or any body else who has a plan cause its pretty obvious the state gov hasn't got one .
What I meant by the shark spotters comment was obviously there are sharks near surfers up and down the coast all the time, but only around Ballina do they go for a nibble. What's so special about the Ballina area that makes the Sharks want to get up close?
yeah sorry I re-read it after posting... maybe it's a rivermouth behaviour? Bite first, ask questions later
... Or maybe when they're spotted elsewhere, it's cos they're commuting between feed zones?
One thing i have learned in the last 2 years is that these whites are hitting in clear shallow water between 9 and midday. We think it is safer to surf early and in murky water.....
Kaiser - plenty of other river mouths nearby and further away where these attacks are not happening. Why not D'bah next to the Tweed river mouth? Surely more targets there than North Wall Ballina? There is also the "passing around the eastern edge of the continent with continental shelf closest" theory plus the marine park theory (Bruns river to top of lennox point is marine park acting as a sanctuary). I favour the latter explanation although with a lack of scientific study who knows (plus not a complete explanation as why are these protected sharks attacking in the Ballina shire and not elsewhere e.g. Byron and Tweed coasts?)? I spent a lot of time on the west coast of SA in the late nineties when lots of attacks were occurring and the theory I heard put up by long time locals was the "marine park/apex predator protection" theory. In terms of a working hypothesis, after one of the last attacks in Elliston I heard an extensive unofficial cull occurred and then after this the shark attack rate dropped quickly.
Looks like Baird is gonna install nets after all - http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/another-shark-attack-in-ballina/new...
Are they still doing aerial surveillance? Seems to be distinct lack of activity, no reports, for the "aerial surveillance" for a while now ... well, as far as the NSW Shark Smart twitter accounts goes ...
https://twitter.com/nswsharksmart
School holidays are over.
Exactly.
Only days later, another incident.
With such a cluster of activity, surely the government has a 'duty of care' to continue the aerial surveillance while other options are explored?
Good News, after 12 months of campaigning the government has finally decided that human life is more important.
Nets for the short term is all we have ever asked until they can come up with solid technology that will protect surfers. If they pour the money into developing a tech so surfers and apex predators can coexist in harmony without harming other marine life. Think macro greenies, if this works we can sell our technology back to the world and remove all nets from Australian shores, just imagine how much sea life we could save internationally and how much we can learn about these amazing fish.
Lets face it, the government was never going to take down their nets from Sydney and I've never met one greenie, DPI representative or marine biologist in my campaign that has tried to negotiate the removal.
So Happy, I'm sick of my surf buddies being killed or mauled.....Shelly Beach
Good news, eh Dave? I hope you get the expected outcome and the nets work as intended.
At last, a bit of common sense and some level of immediate protection. The DPI and scientists failed on this one. Points to Baird to finally act.
I wouldn't blow too much smoke up Bairds arse,took way to long to act on this matter.
I would blame the local Mayor on that one.
Baird announces shark nets the day after the greyhound backflip.
That'll piss em off.
Good move. Hopefully nets will provide the same results as elsewhere regarding human protection.
Whoever gets the net maintenance contract is gonna be kept busy for a while.
Drum lines, catch and kill,this tagging and dragging is NOT a good idea.
Nets , good enough for the Goldie good enough for NSW.
Where is bloody Tom Carroll when these "Bumps" happen.
C"mon Tom! Test ya shark device asap without a jet-ski behind you.
Put it beyond doubt , perfect opportunity i think.
Dave Drinkwater you're right either broad side of smoko.(8:00-10:30)
I alerted similar facts after last Balina attack.
Near all outta town youth and families hit the beach these same hours.
Also as you said Dave in shallow water... most notably clear.(Although local overcast attacks have and will occur)
Ebb tide also seems a consideration.(These cautions based on obvious current data sets only).
Time to reconsider Gidgets top ten world wide shark rules! Maybe they don't apply to every shark and beach.More detailed localised examinations are needed! In a perfect world...Lifeguards on each beach patrol may well issue cautions then sound alarms by tide,Sun,wind,season,food supply or geography. If that crosses borders so be it. Then we only need argue over warning system!
Good luck Ballina & surrounds. Hope it all works out for the best ASAP.
In five years time fines will be issued to anyone that goes surfing in an area that has pinged a shark track or where a shark has been spotted.
If you want to stay informed - check this site - multiple shark spottings everyday .
https://www.facebook.com/dorsalaus
Understandably a lot of focus on Ballina. There have been attacks in less populated areas aswell, Evans, Yamba, Lighthouse beach at Port and the South Sapphire near Coffs.
Having a lot of sharks and a lot of surfers in the same zone has got to increase interactions.
Local populations of sharks may teach each other new hunting styles.
I guess Reunion Island has some similarities with Ballina, not sure if their deterrent measures are working.
Hope young surfer in latest attack is doing well.
Don't you love our dear academics. Now we have a Dr Christopher Neff, who claims shark nets will not help address the issue of GWS. He reckons nets are 'only useful for politicians'. For those that are supporting our scientific community on this issue, really need to listen to those in the water, surfers.
No matter which way we look at this, some action has to be taken. Nets are a start.
Well TBH I agree with him, I'm a bit dubious about the veracity of nets. The ones they're dropping in are only territorial nets, they don't block sharks from getting through like the eco-barrier thingies that washed away.
The issue is now political, not scientific, the pollies have to be seen to do something and fast, but it doesn't mean scientists shouldn't still speak up about what they think is true.
I hope Christopher Neff is wrong - hey, he probably hopes so too - but understand that science and politics are two distinct things.
Yeah, well, let's face it this whole excercise has been a stuff up. It's been political from the beginning and that is where the problem started. The Greens at the beginning and even now are saying 'no Nets'. The fact is, the only solution for surfers is nets. Granted there is collateral damage but it will stop some sharks. Scientifically stated at least 15%. That's got to be better than some kid getting his leg chomped.
This may not or should not be the ultimate solution but there needs to be some constructive action now.
The best science is saying to us surfers, is wear a repellant. Is that really the best solution for the surfers - not really. I have to give credit to Baird for changing, that's not an easy thing for a pollie.
I do find it interesting that despite the high shark activity in the water, it seems that many people in the line up are not wearing shark deterrent systems. They would rather spend 10's of millions of dollars in shark nets, arial surveillance and regular shark spot checks, rather than have the 20-100 guys buy a device and see if there is an general impact. Surely this would be more cost effective as an initial step. They make people wear a helmet on the road riding a bike perhaps the same logic applies. At least we would know if these devices truely work or not and if this was a positive step forwards to solving the problem. I hope for a speedy recovery for the injured victim and hope he has the courage to return to the water again in the future to continue to enjoy the joy of surfing.
AJ, you are most likely not a surfer ? You are aware that firstly that they are not totally effective. Cost is over $700. But there is talk that they actually attract before they may repell. Think about it.
AJ, the whole Shark Shield saga is really quite a mystery.
Stu did a story on it here on SW some months ago which triggered some simple questions about the product that I felt were reasonable to ask Shark Shield if one was to spend $700 and potentially rely on it to avoid a shark attack.
Not one question answered, no reply just total silence. That kind of treatment can only lead one to draw their own conclusions.
Tonybarber, what would you rather academics and scientists do? You said the "scientists failed". How could they have succeeded in your eyes? Especially given successive govt cuts to funding uni and csiro researchers that has directly reduced shark research over the past decade.
They're supposed to report data and their interpretation of it. That's what they've done in all pieces of relevant work (I showed that pretty clearly in the other thread, based on evidence most of us here didn't know existed, including me and I dare say, including you).
Now you're getting upset about someone saying, based on the evidence he has seen that nets won't solve this problem. What would you rather he do, tell you his honest opinion of the efficacy of a plan given the available evidence or ignore the evidence and tell you what you want to hear? It seems to me they can't win in your eyes unless they do the latter.
I remember people saying it could be risky to use a shark shield because it could create a false sense of security. Wouldn't you rather hear if it's possible nets might have the same effect?
Firstly, funding cuts has nothing to do with this, that's a furfie. From my reading and listening to this issue, it seems we know little about the behaviour, movements, numbers of Great whites, particularly around the north nsw region. As you know they tried a net system which broke up in the swells. Fair enough, they had a go. But let's be realistic here, are they aiming to protect surfers or swimmers in flagged areas ? I would suggest they clearly failed to come up a solution for surfers. As you know, the response was to get a shark repellent. I don't think that's good enough. We know there are nets elsewhere which do prevent shark movements to a degree where there have not been any reported attacks or bites for many years in waters not far from Ballina. The fact is they are effective. Granted there are negatives with net use but they are effective. (15% was quoted by DPI). The Ballina issue is different to WA and Reunion. We don't have history of such shark movements around Ballina as there are now. At least we had a trial of a netting system but it failed and what is disappointing, that solution was for bathers not surfers.
Maybe it's time to cull and bleed. Certainly we need more data but we also need to act now. From the beginning this has been way too political. Historically surfers have not been a very influential lobby group and still not.
" ... funding cuts has nothing to do with this ... it seems we know little about the behaviour, movements, numbers of Great whites, particularly around the north nsw region."
Ah, ya sorta shot yaself in the foot there tonyb.
How are we going to know more if there is no funding for research?
Speaking of research. Does anyone know if there is any data for the locations of where whales have been buried along the east coast? Or, better still, whether any of the 'scientific reports' have checked the data for water flow / water movement / currents from where whales are buried to where shark incidents have occurred...
I'm seeing a strong link from the amateur research I've done and am doing as time permits.
Not only are there sharks spotted in the locations of buried whales, but, the water flows seem to all eddy up where the incidents occur (i.e. north wall stretch Ballina, Evans, Head, etc). With locations with little or no people in the water (i.e. wooyung / south golden beach and the salt / casuarina beach stretchs) having no 'incidents' it seems the people / shark encounter is increased / linked due to people in the water at the locations affected by dead whale scent in the water.
Am Working at Sydney Uni. They are making a motza. Which employer pays 17% into your super !
There is certainly an acknowledged lack of data for GWS. Hence trials and now the setup of drum lines. But that will take time. Sharks are biting now.
Relatively Recent whale burials I can remember we're at Sapphire, Casurina, 7 mile.
Some fellows did some research and posted in the below thread;
https://www.swellnet.com/news/surfpolitik/2015/08/11/north-coast-shark-a...
OK so it seems you're most upset that they didn't come up with a solution for surfers. They 'failed' to come up with that. But how could they, when they haven't been asked to do that by their paymasters (i.e. the govt)? And more importantly, they haven't been funded to do that.
The funding issue is relevant because money was pulled out of csiro's shark research program in the past. We don't know as much as we might because the research programs have been defunded over the years. Seems that's changing now because of this urgent need but as you might understand, doing research and getting results takes time.
If you want scientists to come up with a solution for surfers, a possible design (or two or three) needs to be developed and then tested. This would take a few years to do, and then the data would be there. It would be great but sadly the scientific community is rarely in the position to implement such a multi-million dollar research program without cash. But again, seems like no one has asked (read, funded) them to do so.
You want answers now, those answers don't exist. And it seems the cash to find the answers isn't on the table. You want nets now instead as a start, that's fine of course but the scientific community doesn't decide if nets go in, politicians do.
There's no question something needs to happen with this but the scientific community isn't the barrier here. If you don't want them to speak up on their evidence when they tell you something you don't want to hear, be honest about that. But if you want the scientific community to provide their best available input, don't complain when you don't like the message because in all likelihood they are likely looking at data you're not aware of. And if you want the scientists to be useful, support politicians that support, instead of cut, research.
Understand your thoughts, Benski. Of course, admire the CSIRO (in general - wireless is just one great effort). But your argument becomes weakened by the fact there are many research establishments, private, Uni, overseas, etc. The key reason I thought they 'failed' was after loitering to Dr Vic P and the rep from DPI.
Then there was the trial. Look at who they was to protect ! Ok, it failed, well that's another story.
But to finally come out and say get a shark repellent. Bap bow. Failed. Maybe there was political pressure, but we won't know. But the main pollie, Baird, did change - action of various sorts may now be possible.
Not really weakened when the govt funds uni research and they've cut that too, and with no commercial fishery on white sharks there's never going to be private research on the pop size or effect of netting options.
I'd be very interested to read the article or publication where someone said to use a repellent of some kind. Can you provide a link?
Not sure what trial you're referring to but if you're upset with the placement of the nets because it was for swimmers not surfers, that doesn't sound like a scientific decision, let alone question. That's a decision for the local pollies.
Thanks for the response. Maybe my tone is too direct but I'm not really 'upset'. Frustrated, maybe. What now seems to b clear is that 'surfers' are not the group the government was interested in saving - rather 'bathers'. This of course changes the game and strategies required to fix this, at least in the immediate term. Fair enough, barrier nets were trialled and failed. Now what else, baited drum lines ? Nets ? Cull ? A kill and bleed in the area ? Anyway, finally the premier had to step in and say 'Nets'. Ok, let's get on with it and hope no further incident against surfers in this area.
Re, the link for Dr Peddemors repellent recommendation - COastalWatch shark discussion about 58 minutes in.
Funding for CSIRO is not relevant here and is a totally different issue.
Tony B, with that rate of super contribution the only ones who will afford beach front homes at Ballina will be the scientists who couldn't figure out why the sharks are still there and they will just have to sit on the beach.
Shark Karma!
Well on the bright side Lennox locals will comfortably be able to get back to what they do best. Dropping in on blow ins who support their tourism industry which should recover from this.
i hope the nets help.
How about WA...2 fatals this year and 11 since 2008, plus a number of close calls. What's being done here. Fuckall. You should be happy with nets.
Byron Shire mayor says No to shark net trail - ABC online.
I grew up in Durban and the coast to the north and south (Kwa-Zulu Natal) has a pretty good record of using shark nets to prevent attacks on surfers and swimmers over the last 60 years - developed using Australian technology.
From the website - http://www.shark.co.za/Pages/ProtectionSharks-NetsDrumlines
Are nets and drumlines fail-safe?
It was recognised before shark netting was introduced to the beaches of Sydney, Australia, in 1937 that only a complete enclosure would provide complete protection from shark attacks. Despite this, the safety record of shark nets off the coasts of New South Wales, Queensland (Australia) and KwaZulu-Natal, together with that of drumlines off Queensland has been very good. At Durban, from 1943 until the installation of nets in 1952, there were seven fatal attacks. Since the installation of nets there have been no fatalities at Durban and no incidents resulting in serious injury. At KwaZulu-Natal's other protected beaches, from 1940 until most of those beaches were first netted in the 1960s, there were 16 fatal attacks and 11 resulting in serious injury. In the three decades since nets were installed there have been no fatal attacks at those beaches and only four resulting in serious injury. Two of these occurred at Amanzimtoti, in 1974 and 1975, the third at Ballito in 1980 and the most recent at Umtentweni in 1999. It has been argued that the Amanzimtoti incidents represent only a partial failure of shark nets in that parts of the installation were out of order at the time and bathing and surfing had been banned. Such has been their success that a generation of KwaZulu-Natal residents has grown up in an environment virtually free from the risk of shark attack.
Durban has the same water temp and wave activity as around Lennox/Ballina and if the nets work in Durban they should work in Australia - the whole system going full circle - from Sydney to Durban and perhaps back to your coast.
Hopefully the nets go in quick as surfers will undoubtedly keep getting nailed if they don't.
Shaun have you ever had a close call with a white or other shark in South Africa?Whatever way you look at it installing nets has a great track record for preventing attacks.Got a feeling its more about having a dead shark dangling for a while which puts them off.
Thats interesting Shaun, and true. I wish the greenies around Ballina and Byron would come to their senses. In yesterdays paper they published a photo of the Seabird rescue people releasing a beautiful looking turtle back into the ocean but adding that if the nets were in place this turtle would surely die.
Well thats debatable and i think it have more chance of being eaten by one of the many great whites hanging around. We need all the help we can get in our area, its become so political/votes, that the greens and pollies are prepared to see peoples lives ruined. While they continue to use nets/drumlines successfully in Queensland and Sydneys beaches. Go figure. Thanks so much for that info Shaun.
High tech militiary shark spy cam has 100% success rate : Northern Star newspaper
right click address
then right click copy
then right click paste in the add new comment box.
https://www.google.com.au/#q=how+to+post+a+link+on+a+forum
100% success rate at telling us what we already know: that there are shiteloads of whites around.
then what?
Well for all those people against shark nets and trying to do positive things to stop shark attacks maybe you should scroll thru this and see what can happen..
http://www.northernstar.com.au/news/shark-victims-horror-injuries-reveal...
OMG I am at a loss for words...
5 Sharks tagged and released over the weekend. You guys have big problems up there.
Shark nets wont work in Ballina/Lennox area,to much shifting sand,to much open coastline subjected to large swell.I heard that an enviromental impact study is requied???,how many more lives will be destroyed while that takes place??HOw will nets protect the learn to surf at the bridge??the families at the boat channel lennox or the sepentine???If swell can break a single strand of wire attached to a tag detector what will it do to nets?Born and bred in Ballina,old man was a trawlerman,Ive surfed for 56yrs around here,never been a shark attack in all those years why because the fishos culled any shark close to shore.Sharks didnt survive this long without self preservation coming first cull a few the rest will disappear.The nets will only harm whale,dolphins ,turtles and any large pelagic species,culling is the only answer.The law passed to protect GWS 20 yrs ago was based on faulty information,they can throw up to 20 pups not 2 as first thought.Vic Hislop shark fisherman,said "We would regret this day"meaning when the preservation laws were passed.Cull and save more tragedies,next attack could be a women or a child.
"A 3.2-metre great white was the first of five sharks caught in brand new nets deployed along the infamous stretch of northern NSW coastline that has been marred by a rash of attacks over the past year.
The hulking female was found ensnared off Sharpes Beach, Ballina at 11.30am on Saturday during a routine check of the nets by Department of Primary Industry personnel, just days after the net was installed.
Four other great white sharks were also snagged on Saturday by the state's new hi-tech drumlines, also deployed last week: a three-metre shark was caught off Lennox Head; another measuring 2.7 metres was snared at South Ballina; and two more were caught at Evans Head, measuring 2.5 and 2.3 metres."
http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/a-32metre-great-white-the-first-of-five-sharks...
Query - are the snagged sharks let go or they culled ?
Tagged and Released.
Edit.
A given a stern talking to by a qualified shark whisperer.
Another one yesterday.
NSWDPI advise 2.7m male White shark tagged and released off Flat Rock/Angels Beach, Ballina using SMART Drumline technology. Shark #74
I thought Shark #74 had a particularly mean look, a 'wouldn't want to meet him down a dark alley' look.
How many of the farkng things are there up that way?!
How many caught and tagged this year ? 70 plus ?
All this tagging and tracking is an "excellent" government strategy to make all the tourists feel safe. They sure are clever these politicians and scientists.
Now instead of vaguely wondering what nasty big biteys may be out there as people hit the beach or plan a holiday they can see online endless reports and data about levels of shark activity that have even old time surfers spooked. In the good old days (when we passed through a trough in Great White numbers and only knew what we had seen for ourselves) we were somewhat safer but also ignorant of what is out there.
Now in a world where the answer to every problem is to create an App or Smart something online we have, ironically, a strategy that will end up achieving exactly what they hoping to avoid. They want people to be safer but more importantly feel safer. Well, I can't see that working. Tourists, tourism operators, mayors, parents and even groovy shark fans will get progressively more and more freaked out by the sheer amount of evidence that Great Whites are in close to popular beaches in numbers. Combine this with regular attacks and you will end up with a shift in attitudes across the population sooner or later to "non App" based solutions. Sadly, it will take a child or two being taken to really crystalize the issue. Old salts don't count so much.
The observed impact of Killer Whales killing a single shark (Fallon Islands) sending the whole population off of Great Whites to the deep Pacific near Mexico for the whole seal season shows that culling does not have to be high volume. Selective culling possibly in ways that register on others in the vicinity (i.e. leave them dead in the water for a while) would probably have quite an impact on their behavior - maybe sending them off to the edge of continental shelf away from the coast?
You think it would at least warrant a trial...take the first GW that doesn't survive the drumline/net and drag them up and down the coast bleeding out...
I can hear the greenies screaming...
I have read that white pointers are cannibalistic. I remember a 3m shark found on the Gold Coast somewhere a few years back had a big chunk taken out of its belly believed to have been from an even bigger whitey. If this is so, do you think the smell or scent of dead sharks would really bother them? Perhaps they disappeared from Fallon and Neptune Islands because of an ongoing presence of orcas in those vicinities at the time? I don't know the answer just asking the question.
The Scientist who described the event on the Fallons Islands was a bit mystified by it all. The large Great White was attacked and killed by the Orca early in the Seal pupping season and within a day all the Great Whites who normally patrol the island for months were gone. She doubted whether many saw it occur. The blood was localised in one area. It was almost as if they communicated "get out of here". Orcas were not that rare in the locality and were not normally the cause of any change in behavior among the Whites. What seemed to be happening was the top dogs were pretty comfortable at the top of the food chain cruising around munching on seals. Then an event occurred that upset their sense of safety and they just left.
That is the potential impact of nets, culling etc. It may have a far bigger impact on behavior than the scale of the event. A few sharks caught in nets might change the behavior of hundreds of others. A few selective culls with some "publicity" - i.e. tow the dead shark up and down the coast, may send hundreds to deeper water.
Once the have a lot tagged they could actually test this theory. They could wait for a lot of tagged sharks to be in an area then cull one and tow it about and watch the result. That would be interesting science - real world stuff with consequences that can be measured. Better to get real than have all the scientists sitting behind their lap tops counting them endlessly and producing reports and graphs.
The Sydney and Durban experience is just so clear cut - netting changes the equation dramatically towards safer beaches. And, it seems likely that the scale of the netting or culling may not need to be very impactful on the overall numbers to create behavioural changes. With a lot of tagged sharks the possibility to test cause and effect in real time is now available.
What is the large dead animal in the water in front of the Lennox cafe this morning...Freeride any info ?
Just going to check on it now.
How close was this guy to being another statistic.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-12-13/kalgoorlie-filmmaker-gets-close-up...
Bet his ticker was doing triple time after that!
Looked pretty obvious to me that white wanted a piece of him and was very keen for an ambush attack......the fact he stared it down and was in the blue camo suit .....kept just enough disincentive to prevent that thing coming in hard.
Pretty good look at modus operandi for attack.....checking out, cruising off then turning and coming in hard.
That seems to becoming the method now....if you see it at close range, keep facing it and don't let it get in behind you for the ambush attack.
One bit of advice that's always stuck with me is, if you find yourself in the water with a white, always show it your eyes. Stare at it all the while and let it know you can see it.
Fucken hope I never have to use it.
How on earth could a shark tell where that divers eyes are....or even whether the diver is facing him or looking away. A shark wouldn't know what a human face looks like let alone with a mask, snorkel and camo hoodie on.
Hey Don.
How do you know where a dogs eyes are ?
Or a fishes eyes ?
Give the sharks a little bit of credit, surely ?
Blowin, I'm pretty sure a human's IQ is just a bit more than a sharks mate. They are an animal with a very simple brain....that's why they attack us on surfboards....cause they have no fcking clue what we are.
Humans, and espec the human brain are just a wee bit more sophisticated than a sharks little brain.
Average Australian will spend 60 percent of their time working at a job they hate to pay for their home theatre.
Shark swims around in its home and closes its mouth around the closest food without raising a sweat.
Who's the idiot ?
Just jokes Don.
I'd wager that sharks must have decent handle on things by now.....after dominating the oceans for the last 90000000 years *
*fact may be not entirely accurate. Or correct.
You for real Don?
The fucken magpie down the street always attacks from behind, same way it's been since I was a kid.
Just a coincidence?
Put a bike helmet on and draw circles all over it and the magpie is fucked. Have a look at that video again and the part where the diver points the camera at his face. A shark wouldn't have a fcking clue where that guys eyes are with that mask, snorkle and camo hoodie on.
Nah, you're off track Don.
agree don. a human does not live in the same environment as the shark. a shark would have limited understanding of our physique and how the human body functions/moves because it cannot learn about us. for that reason i really doubt it knows where are our eyes when a mask is on our head. the mask would confuse it.
Im not sure if I've shared this story before here, it will sound like BS, but it is honestly true.
I use to live at Fraser Island, one day i took a ski out to the outer sand bank that is a few hundred metres offshore (also areas of coffee rock sometimes you could bag the odd reef fish), it was dead flat and a glassy clean ocean, i was fishing out there with a hand line i didn't have much luck, but huge schools of Tailor and Dart where speeding through like it was a high way, i was looking down watching them suddenly i saw the shape of a shark also speed by, maybe five seconds latter a shark was just below the surface right next to my ski kind of almost turning on it's side and one of it's eyes was looking right at me, just for maybe one second then it was gone again.
It was the most surreal thing I've ever seen in my life, it was like we made eye contact like it was staring into my eyes and if i bent over i could have touched it, i don't even know what type of shark it was maybe six foot, it just made me freeze and lose my breath like my heart stopped, like you would imagine how you would feel if you saw a ghost.
After it happened i just sat there for a minute just going fuck fuck fuck, it could have easily had a go at me and i would have been screwed, but it obviously didn't want too and was just curious, anyway once i got my breath back i paddled straight in.
Freeride 1.51pm - "Looked pretty obvious to me that white wanted a piece of him and was very keen for an ambush attack."
I'd have to disagree - I don't see any real intent or agitation or body language that says this shark was keen. Looks very, very curious but not like it wanted to attack at all.
At the same time, if you didn't eyeball it (if you were sitting on a board) it might be so curious as to investigate your leg...
I've often wanted to have a dive mask with me while surfing, would be a real bonus.
Far as the dead animal goes at Lennox, I spoke to the surfer who saw it, she said it was larger than a dolphin, and stank. Maybe a baby whale? Dead for a while by the sound of it.
I went and polaroided the stretch from the pub to the Point for an hour and could see no sign of it, nor any strange activity.
East Aus current has started flowing in here strongly downhill (north to south) so it's possible the carcass could have been washed in on that? Would expect it to end up on the beach this arvo.
Small slick of trichodesmium (filamentous blue-green algae, red-tide) apparent today which is usually associated with early season surges from the EAC.
Inshore water temp warmed by a few degrees from the weekend.
http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/western-australia/wa-abalone-diver-gyula...
Carries a "serious speargun " pretty sure there's another name for those .....
Good article and some excellent advice in there.
Divers have more scope for strategy than surfers or swimmers.
The opportunity for a stealth attack from below is a huge factor in their decision making to attack or not. Sharks grow up with vast experience of having the fish or seal who sees them being able to out swim, dodge or weave in ways that mean they miss their prey. Seals will swim around them like playful kids and not get attacked. But with a deep water stealth approach they will more often have a go. So deep water drop offs change your odds a lot if one is about.
Agreed, in my experience sharks initially work around the limits of visibility - if you've got a mask on and can eyeball them before they get too bold, things are much more comfortable.
Haven't seen a white in the water, I suspect that could be a different story.
I heard that the foul smelling flotsam was pig belly which is used to bait the drum lines.Rumour has it that these are showing up all along the coast,large bite marks where they were pulled of the hooks.Can anyone explain if one shark is hooked what happens to the others the bait attracts.Like if the bait attracts 5 hungry sharks,one is hooked, where do the other sharks whos appertite has been whet,find food.they set these drum lines of popular surfing beaches.Anyone notice that their not great whites any more,just white sharks,in any press release from the DPI
White sharks that bite.
Not great whites that attack.
Not sure how they'd word it when someone gets eaten.
Unintentionally ingested maybe ?
perhaps you could refer to them as Carcharodon carcharias?
sounds shit though, and of course many aussies have trouble pronouncing it
IMO if that white wanted to attack that diver it clearly had plenty of opportunity, given the diver admitted being completely unaware it was even present. That is the intersteing point too. I would say that whites can observe a diver for as long as they want without the diver even being aware, no surprise really, hence a "bump" would indicate they are not that hungry......
"He estimated the shark was 4-5 metres, and said a shark expert had told him the shark would have been a similar weight to a sport utility vehicle."
I estimated about 2 metres. Anyone else think that shark was 4-5 metres?
What keeps us sort of safe is thzt sharks have spent countless hours cruising around observing various forms of sea life and chasing and eating all manner of fish and seals. When they see a human like that diver the reaction would be mostly wtf is that? Can i eat it? Will it fjght back? Is it food? That hesitation and uncertainty creates chances to escape or leads to a decision to simply move on.
That is partly why we dont want them hanging around inshore near people too much. The more they do the less they will hesitate and the more their senses will tell them that we are warm blooded and might taste like a dolphin. That is why attacks frequency may not be a simple straight line function of numbers of sharks and numbers of people. There may be an exponential element to it or a critical mass point where a shift in behaviour spreads among the GW population.
Strategies to lower risks have to seek to change their behaviour, to lessen inshore interactions and to make them fear us or at least be wary of us. It might be netting, or culling or even setting up electrjc shock devices that zap them if they go near popular beaches. But it needs to be proactive testing such strategies not just monitoring, counting tagging and observing.
I agree totally Frog.
That video was interesting on so many levels as far as white shark behaviour goes. It does seem with humans there is an habituation process and if something , either time or perhaps cage diving etc etc means they become more habituated to us there is a plausible hypothesis that they are more likely to take that opportunistic action to ambush us and take an investigative bite.
Bumping, circling and investigation seems to be pretty normal behaviour for these juvenile/sub-adults.
I got bumped hard at South Wall few years back and also bumped off my board by a reef shark in the Marshall Islands.
Reports of another attack at Shelly this morning.