Western Australia!

There has been some progress in WA.

This is good stuff.

It's the report commissioned by the WA government and written by Bond University associate professor Daryl McPhee. After having analyzed the various Shark control measure, it comes to the correct conclusions, ie that

• Shark Control Programs result in the capture of a wide range of by-catch species including marine mammals, marine turtles, and sharks and rays not implicated in unprovoked attacks on humans. 

• Information obtained from other shark control programs has documented that by-catch rates are often very high in the early years of a program. These rates subsequently decline which is likely due in part to the effect of shark control programs “fishing down” local populations of animals vulnerable to the gear. 

• There is a high likelihood that the additional anthropogenic source of mortality that a shark control program in WA would generate has potential implications for the populations of any currently threatened marine species or where conservation concerns are emerging that would be vulnerable to this gear. 

• Due to the environmental impacts of shark control activities, it is not recommended that either shark nets of drum-lines be introduced into Western Australia. 

• Further consideration could be given to the feasibility of using shark enclosures for bather protection.

• Shark enclosures have the advantage of providing a complete physical barrier that prevents sharks from accessing an area and do not target the reduction in shark numbers or result in any bycatch of other large species like shark nets do. Such enclosures are better suited to calmer areas although new materials that are available potentially increase their scope of use. 

• Shark enclosures are suitable for bathers only. They are unlikely to be desirable at locations for other watersport activities such as surfing or diving.

Remains the issue of the culling.


Well, gee, bravo Mr. Moore - again!
This is of course utter humbug and one can only hope that with time, the political grandstanding will subside in favor a more rational assessment of the situation.

There is indeed no silver bullet solution here.
Those Shark strikes will continue to happen whatever anybody does - and it certainly behooves the aquatic recreationists to take all possible precautions and to accept the fact that they are entering a dangerous place like Neff suggests.
But whereas it is plausible that the incidence of those strikes is linked to the increased number of people entering the water, and this during a longer season, there remains a further equally plausible cause, the topic nobody wants to talk about: that we may be witnessing the result of decades of successful protection of Australia's Great White populations, and of the Pinnipeds they prey upon.

Yes so far this is speculative - but it needs to be investigated.
And if the result is that there are now many more GWs, then there will be many more such strikes in the future. And if so, much like in the case of the protected Salties in Darwin, the situation will eventually reach a breaking point where public opinion will demand drastic measures like recently in Réunion - and trust me, no politician will forever withstand the pressure of a strident mob.

Solutions?
Certainly not the usual ethical preaching that is ultimately unrealistic, nor kicking the can down the road by pretending that there is no problem - but instead, exploring strategies for mitigation now, before the situation becomes fatally compromised by emotions.
With GWs being highly migratory, a Risk Management Plan like what is being proposed for the Salties in the Northern Territory is obviously not a viable strategy - but may there be another, totally different RMP that is? And what about the revision of the GWs protected status, that would re-establish a (likely limited) targeted fishery? Will that reduce the likelihood of those strikes? Or will removing the Pinnipeds from populated areas help? Yes it is repugnant - but are there better alternatives, practically?
I got no idea - but again, somebody needs to look into it!

Or how about this - mutatis mutandis!

Click for detail!

Untangling the Tangle?

The tickers have been buzzing with the heroic and successful efforts by rescuers to untangle a subadult Humpback Whale from a piece of Shark net.

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Rescuers called this Whale rescue the toughest yet, calling into question once again the necessity of the Shark nets. This particular Shark net had gone missing from Currumbin Creek on September 20 and at nearly 2000 feet long and 50 feet deep with a 16-gauge chain, was found wrapped around the young Whale's tail.

Shark control gear was introduced in the early 1960s in response to a spate of fatal Shark attacks off Queensland beaches. The gear, which includes Shark nets and drum lines, is in place off 87 Queensland beaches. Ever since, not a single person has been killed by a Shark at a netted beach.

Since 2000, 23 Whales have been caught in Shark netting in Queensland and 20 have been successfully freed - alas, however, several have died, too. The stranding of Dolphins, Turtles, Dugongs and Whales in the Shark nets has sparked calls from environmentalists for the nets to be removed.

The Queensland Government has long been opposed to the idea of removing Shark nets but comes under increasing pressure during the winter months, when whales make their annual migration from the Antarctic up to the tropical waters of north Queensland. Many of the whales making the return journey south do so with newborn calves, who are often confused by the Shark nets. Up to 11,000 Humpbacks are now making the annual winter migration up the coastline.

I'm certainly passionate about Shark Conservation - but this controversy has me a little perplexed, like always when I'm confronted with all-or-nothing positions.

On the one hand, I strongly oppose the wanton killing of Marine Life - but on the other, these are some of the most frequented recreational beaches in the world and the nets obviously "work".

Whereas some passionately demand the removal, other more pragmatic voices point out that removing an "established" net may entail more then just safety risks.
And depending on whether the media carry a report about a Shark incident or a Whale entanglement, public opinion swings back and forth, apparently with no alternatives, solutions or end in sight.

Has anybody come up with any alternative safety measures that are both effective and economically viable? Maybe, by tapping into the research of Sharkdefense into magnets or electrochemicals, or the like? Maybe, by using NGO money to fund that research?
Frankly, I don't know - but given the necessary goodwill (from both sides!), I'm sure that reasonable compromises could be found.

The good news is that we're not talking about the classic "Shark Killers" vs "Shark Protectors" scenario. What is facing the Conservationists, at least in its overwhelming majority, is not a mob of Shark haters, just a group of people voicing legitimate concerns. It is still a delicate balancing act for the Politicians who are being asked to enact legislation, but at least one could presume that the positions are not completely entrenched.
Or are they?

When it comes to the problem with the Humpbacks, maybe this could be a suggestion.
Winter is when the Whales migrate and, I assume, the season where only few people go to the beaches for a swim. Surely, there must be data about exactly when the Whales migrate and about the routes they follow.
In my experience, most people nowadays react favorably to sensible Conservation measures - with that in mind, could the nets not be removed at least during that period, with signs that explain the reasons being placed on the beaches?

Or is this just too trivial?

Out there

"It could be the last thing you see...

A great beast - the size of a bus - and its ravenous appetite, savaging all it encounters with razor-sharp teeth and a crushing strength unknown to man. At first lurking in the distance - another shadow in an ocean full of dark nuances. Then it approaches - and strikes swiftly, without remorse - in a blink, it all ends. In these parts, the locals simply know it as... "

.... and-so-on and-so-forth...
And this in 2008 when scores of Conservationists are despairing at the world-wide demise of Sharks. Thank you for being biased, ignorant and unconcerned!

But granted, Shark incidents do happen and surfers and other aquatic recreationists are understandably concerned and anxious about not ending up at the receiving end of such encounters.
I for one would never, ever go surfing, spearfishing or swimming in Great White territory, ever!

Some simply gloat and try to exploit the ensuing news, e.g. by setting up idiotic websites.
Others, for whom staying high and dry is simply not an option, have gone to the trouble of trying to develop a list of reasonable recommendations.
Like with us Shark divers, it all boils down to being smart, responsible and hopefully, to minimizing the risk by displaying adequate behavior and following a sensible set of procedures.

I did like this post on a South African surfing blog for for its laudable intention to remain unbiased and to put things into perspective. As to the idea with the eye, well, I dunno.... As always in those cases, it will remain an interesting but untested Hypothesis.
Other sites worth consulting are the recommendations by the International Shark Attack File and the Global Shark Attack File. Most of it is nothing more than common sense - but as we all know, that is a rare commodity indeed!

And if everything fails, there is always this.
And this for gators (I don't go swimming in the Everglades, either...)
And this if you parachute should fail to open (yes, you're likely to break your arms! over my dead body....).

But better than starting to memorize - be smart!
Chances are very very very much in your favor and you're likely to have one helluva time out there!