The Shark Safety Net Question !

Back in the mid twentieth century a shark attack in Australian waters was so rare that it would attract banner headlines in newspapers.  Now these attacks are regular news items that merely rate a mention in the inner pages. Fortunately, many victims manage to survive, but it does raise the question as to why this is now so common  ?

Our ever growing population means there are a lot more of us to invade what we regard as the shark's home territory but we are fairly safe swimming off city beaches.  The majority attacks happen to surfers riding the waves way offshore or people swimming at more remote parts of the shore line.

We have a very controversial line of defence that stretches between Newcastle and Wollongong during the September to April swimming season.  The policy in place calls for sharks caught in these nets to be tagged and released.   The record is good because we have only had one fatality from a shark attack in the sixty years these nets have been in place - and that was sixty years ago.

What is surprising is that these nets do not stop sharks coming close inshore.  Lifesavers at city beaches often see sharks near swimmers and clear the waters while they are chased away.  In particular, the shark species deemed most likely to attack humans are great whites,, bull and tiger sharks.

Critics of these nets complain that they catch and drown a host or protected species.  Of the 480 animals caught, only fifty were dangerous sharks, mostly great whites and unfortunately the over kill contained  dolphins, turtles and many " harmless " shark species including hammerheads and the protected grey nurse shark.   Whales also get entangled in these shark nets as they make their annual journey along our coastline.

Now most lifesaver patrols are equipped with drones and these cheap eyes in the sky are able to give early warning of sharks approaching.  Seasonal movement of bait fish encourage sharks to follow schools inshore and beaches are closed until this danger passes.  Critics who demand those nets be removed think modern technology is better able to keep bathers safe in the water.

One alternative used where an attack has occurred is the drum line approach.  Baited hooks attached to a float are regularly inspected and the tag and release policy applies.  This is more selective than netting, but it still culls a degree of protected species and draws the ire of critics.

Despite the damage they do to the ecology those shark nets have a proven safety record.  Swimming at a popular city beach with lifesavers in attendance is enjoyed by vast crowds and it is reasoned that there is safety in numbers.  It is the lone swimmer at a remote beach that seems more likely to suffer a shark attack.

We would do well to remember that when we go into the water we are entering the sharks feeding ground, and to a shark a human is an unusual delicacy unlike the other fish it encounters.  Curiosity creates an urge for it to take a nibble to see what we taste like.

Keeping that thought in mind is probably the best precaution most swimmers need to make sure they - and sharks - do not encounter one another in the water  !