Shark Alarm - Just How Dangerous Are Our Waters?

Illawarra Mercury

Saturday March 17, 2001

SHADY COSGROVE

AUSTRALIA averaged one fatal shark attack a year - until last year. That statistic was blown out of the water when five people died after shark attacks.

In Illawarra, of course, we don't worry about shark-infested waters.

After all, shark hot spots include the South Australian coastline where Jevan Wright was killed by a white pointer on September 25 last year at Elliston. Or Perth's Cottesloe Beach where businessman Ken Crew died when a white pointer bit off his leg on November 6.

But don't be fooled. The Illawarra may not be known for shark fatalities, but we sport hammerheads, bronze whalers and tiger sharks - all of whom have been known to attack humans.

McDonald's Aerial Patrol general manager Harry Mitchell said it was easy to spot sharks in the first or second row of breakers off the Illawarra from the air. In fact, a large shark can swim in water only one metre deep without breaking the surface.

Jervis Bay is shark spotting heaven.

``Hyams Beach, Chinamans Beach, around the Husky entrance. We've seen many many sharks there. We had awesome numbers of sharks," Mr Mitchell said.

The shark most often spotted by the Aerial Patrol is the hammerhead. Hammerheads are not renowned for attacking humans. White pointers and tiger sharks, however, are another story.

``There's a very real threat with white pointers and tigers. We know they are dangerous because they have a proven track record of attacking people," he said.

``But all in all, we're not in the shark's food chain. When people are taken by sharks, I think the sharks have just made a mistake."

There are theories that sharks who attack humans are sick or tired and are looking for an easy feed. Another theory is that people in wetsuits look like seals - a common food source for sharks.

Shark attacks take place all over the world. Florida boasts the highest number of attacks from 1990 to 1999 with 186 attacks, though only one was fatal.

In that same time period, Australia had 53 attacks, nine of which were fatal. South Africa had 65 attacks with eight fatalities.

NSW Fisheries scientist Dennis Reid said Australia had a higher proportion of fatal attacks because of the species and sizes of the sharks in Australian waters.

But why did the shark attack deaths increase so dramatically last year?

Mr Mitchell believes there are two factors that may be bringing sharks close to shore where people like to swim. Sharks are getting to know people through cage diving and increased shark-human interaction. The water also is warming up and that attracts sharks. Once you increase the numbers of sharks in the vicinity of swimmers, it seems logical that attacks might also rise.

Shark meshing has been a long-standing method of protecting swimmers. Sydney began netting beaches in 1937. Wollongong and Newcastle followed suit in 1949. Shark nets are situated at the beaches in Coledale, Austinmer, Thirroul, North Wollongong and Wollongong.

The nets are not permanent structures nor are they intended to be a complete protective barrier. Some sharks move around the nets and larger ones even break through them. But they do repel smaller sharks and stop them from setting up territories near the nets.

Shark advocates worry because of the number of sharks and other creatures that die in the nets.

But Mr Reid pointed out there were, on average, 150 shark deaths a year of all different species from Newcastle to Wollongong.

``It's very small compared to mortalities from other causes, like fishing," he said.

Another form of shark protection in the region is the aerial patrol which was established in 1957. Beach patrols are usually done on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, but the patrol is on call every day of the year.

It has two ways of deterring shark attacks. The patrol can advise lifeguards who go out in an inflatable boat and move the sharks along.

``We can direct the lifeguards straight to where the sharks are. Nobody's getting hurt, the guys are in full control of their craft and the sharks are pushed out to sea," Mr Mitchell said.

At unpatrolled beaches, the aerial patrol can sound a shark alarm to let bathers and surfers know sharks are in the area.

Mr Mitchell believes aerial patrolling is more effective than netting the beaches.

``The McDonald's Aerial Patrol has an effective means by which we can ensure the community's safety. The meshing program, I think that's had its day," he said.

Mr Reid disagreed. ``I don't think the aerial patrol could replace nets because they patrol a beach for a relatively short time and certainly not overnight. It couldn't replace netting at this stage, but it's a useful adjunct," he said.

Barry Neale and Terry Cooper, who have both been attacked by sharks (see stories below and p3) believe shark netting is necessary.

Mr Cooper said: ``I think you have to find the balance. Some populated places need to be netted so people can feel safe. Let's not go out and actively kill sharks, but let's look after and guard what we can."

John Puljak, another shark attack victim (story, p3) believes nets are unnecessary because of the shark death rate and the effects on other sea animals.

``In my opinion, it's wrong to kill sharks because they might harm humans. If that's the case, why don't we wipe out the hippopotamus? More humans are killed by hippopotami per year than sharks."