I know we have not had any issue and people would like to just forget about sharks but it will be all too important after the next attack.

I posted this in another thread not actually wanting to start another shark thread but i feel it didn't really fit into the tittle were i posted it.

docs.google.com/viewer?url=http://www.wascgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Live-Exports-and-Sharks-Blood-in-the-Water.1pdf.pdf&hl=en_US&chrome=true

The above is a interesting point of view regarding sharks, and live export. I always thought it high fetched but after reading it i think thier could be something

Another heartbreaking but interesting article is in the latest surfing life. Its an interview with one of the guys involved in the wedge attack.

Yes sick of yet another shark thread.

Ps I hope you run spell check over the emails you send out

Interesting article that one in surfing life and how the truth gets twisted and blows the idea of if u see the shark it's not interested in u

surferstu said...
I have come to terms with it. I don't like the fact there has been more attacks and sightings, but there is nothing I can do about it. Good on you if you think you can, I doubt endless shark threads on seabreeze is going to help.

I don't think i can change things. Not for the better but I'm keen to try and bring some balance to the argument, and some clarity to the waist of money our state government is perpetrating in the name of helping us surfers and swimmers. [}:)]

Me I'm also of the understanding that i enter the ocean at my own risk, but i also don't see any issue with reducing the risk if i can

I think the good folk of seabreeze are probably better educated on what might work or not and why not ask the question here I'm not talking religion or the middle east

Scotty88 said...
So how come you WA guys get all the sharks ?
What do the so called experts reckon ?

Im no expert on the subject Scotty bit I did write a bit in the kite forum a little while ago -


There are a few reasons that sharks are more prevalent around WA these days and a lack of food isn't one of them.

I think the first thing to look at is whales and their migration past Perth from the north west to the south west. Back in the day when we used to hunt whales, the whales would stay miles off the coast to try and get past the whalers with out getting hunted.
As of 1978 we stopped hunting whales and their numbers grew and they started to get closer and closer to the coast. To the point that I have seen them 100m off shore last year, something that I have never seen before at local beaches (Perth).

The second thing is that we haven't hunted Great White Sharks for the last ten years adding to their numbers by more than we know. With more whales means more sharks as the sharks hang with whale pods for an easy feed, so with whales coming closer so are the sharks.

I may be wrong but this winter has been the coldest as far as water temp in a while and we all know that GWS like colder water, and yes they are found in warmer waters but they prefer colder water.

Also seal populations have gotten larger so food for the GWS isn't a problem, and over fishing imo isn't the problem at all.

The rogue shark theory is not really an option as the sheer number of sharks spotted tells us this cant be fact. If you don't hunt them they will come and in numbers. The tagged sharks prove this beyond all doubt so this theory can be put to bed.

The answer? Well tbh there isn't one that we can throw out there and fix the problem tomorrow, and I don't think that there will be one in the near future that is sustainable.
Part of the solution is to try and stop it before it happens and more tech thrown at shark shield type devices the better and these are not a solution but a piece of mind but they will have to work much better than they do now.

As far as culling them goes killing ten even twenty of them might help for a while but for how long? A month, maybe two? Some of these sharks come from as far away as South Africa so culling unless you were to kill twenty a month isn't going to work and is not sustainable.

As far as culling them goes killing ten even twenty of them might help for a while but for how long? A month, maybe two? Some of these sharks come from as far away as South Africa so culling unless you were to kill twenty a month isn't going to work and is not sustainable.

The person who gave me the info on the Kill/Cull protocol recons that Fisheries would struggle to even kill one if they tried to, under the guide lines they have to work with (that i posted above). Let alone 10 or 20

I'd like to see something done about fishing/burlying in general so close to beaches. The other morning i found myself sitting in a burly trail from a small boat fishing myabe 100 feet out the back

I'd also like to see some more clear info from fisheries. It turns out that now we get feed the info on tagged fish but prio to about 3 months ago there was no chain of infomation that could be passed on. (Hense the big jump in the last few months) Now they have established a link through Surf Life Saving via twitter and Face book.

I also like Shark Alarm and would like to see that better supported by surfers so we can get more relevent info out in real time.

^^^^^^ Apparently, you guys have more chance dying from lightning strikes - never really made me feel any safer.

LateStarter said...

I've read that article in Surfing Life, and I think it's fitting to share a quote from Ryan Soulis, the young lad surfing with Ben Linden on that morning at Wedge

"something needs to be done in WA about sharks. They've got to get rid of the deadly ones.... Unless you've been in the situation, unless you've been hunted by one you don't know what you're talking about, regardless of how much you've studied sharks or care for them.... Wait until you've seen it take your best mate right in front of you like it was nothing and then you'll know what it's about, whose life is really worth protecting."

Fair enough, but how do you get rid of just the deadly ones? I know the poor fella must be riddled with emotion after that, it can only be traumatazing. Sad situation to be in and Im not sure what can be done.

I recently (a few months ago) visited the old whaling station in Albany with my kids, and based on what they said in the tour, I think its fairly apparent that the end of whaling in 78 meant that white sharks (who apparently have a very long breeding cycle) have now had the time to multiple significantly. This was because sometimes they would store some of the catch in the ocean adjacent to the whaling station when the boats were full. The tour operator said that the amount of white sharks being killed by the whalers each day prior to 78 was significant, as the sharks used to follow the whales into the beach near the station and then steal / make a meal of the catch. The whalers would kill as many whites as they could as their livelyhood depended on it. Doggie, I think this is pretty much what you were getting at?

34 years is enough time for their numbers to fill back in. The protection of them 10 or so years ago has only aided what was already happening.

To me, the only real solution is further development of the shark shield, as the greenies will never allow an outright cull. I seriously doubt that even with the new law the government will kill a single white shark. For some unknown reason the shark shield device recieves bad press by surfers, who in reality should be the ones encouraging its development. An example is the biased reports on shark alarm and also sites like swellnet. At least swellnet let shark shield have the right of response to the criticism.

No shark preventative will ever be fail safe, but it can reduce the risk, and has been proven in several scientific studies to do so. Saying that, I think it needs to be made much more practical for surfers to use. Katana, I am aware you are developing a device specifically for surfers and I can only hope you have success. If the thing works, and can be mounted inside the board, then I think you will become a very weathly man.

I believe the state government are just all talk and spend but actually doing very little with the funds they are spending.[}:)]

People are all happy now that the government has announced it will cull sharks if they are deemed to be a nuisance. Well the truth of this is a joke also.

I found out that of all of fisheries there is only two officers that have the relevant training to shoot. Also they are the only ones aloud to shoot and handle the high powered riffles provided to fisheries. So if a shark is to be killed they must first get one of the two officers to the Gun storage location. (oh that's well of the water) Then onto the boat that can get them to the shark. Protocol is that they are not to fire in front of any witnesses and only if they have a guaranteed 100% kill shot first time. So the shark must be on the surface for this to happen. More likely they comment after being caught on a drum line and pulled along side a $500 000 inflatable hull

Yeah like any of that is going to happen. BUT people think our state government is working on the problem[}:)]

Yes the government needs to appear to be doing something & yep the measures they've taken will do nothing but give the marine biologists more playtime at our expense.

The greatest challenge here is changing the way many of the people who do not regularly use our ocean think in regard to sharks. Sharks have been elevated to a creature of beauty alongside dolphins & whales...& incredible as it is, tolerated...or given license to kill human life as we are perceived to be invading their territory. This has been drummed into the sheeples consciousness for over a decade & it is this that needs to be changed before we can truly do anything about this problem.

People are slowly starting to change their minds on this issue, including myself. If you asked me 10 years ago if I was worried about sharks I would have said, generally not except when I've been in places like Cactus. The frequency of shark attacks was so low & they only seemed to have an appetite for elderly Cottesloe swimmers & surf skiers. Needless to say thats changed & people need to realize. Its not just West Oz that has seen an increase in shark attacks, many places around the world have seen an increase in shark attacks with all kinds of excuses put forward by those who seek to protect them.

Personally I think marine biologists & tourist operators are responsible for associating humans with food & there are a greater number of sharks in the water due to the world wide great white shark protection. As a result we are seeing more shark attacks.

I manage a respite for the elderly & there's this one awesome old bloke who stays with us from time to time who was a professional diver dating back to the 1940's. He told me that up until the late 70's a lot of people used to carry a shotgun on their boats & if they saw a shark, they shot it. The sharks had a tendency to head the other way when they came across a boat. He said as the laws changed so did the behavior of the sharks that he came into contact with. To the point where the bloody things a gnawing on peoples props & hanging around these days.

A lot of people just consider sharks a big brainless killer that tests its curiosity with its teeth like a toddler putting everything in its mouth. I think they're a lot smarter than many people think they are...seems they even understand West Oz is the biggest nanny state in the world, protecting them over us when they're clearly not endangered.

jbshack said...

Personally I think marine biologists & tourist operators are responsible for associating humans with food & there are a greater number of sharks in the water due to the world wide great white shark protection. As a result we are seeing more shark attacks.

I agree and I beleive you should also throw fisherman in that list.

Biologists face a necessary evil that if they need to be tagged they have to get them close to the boat.

doggie said...

jbshack said...

Personally I think marine biologists & tourist operators are responsible for associating humans with food & there are a greater number of sharks in the water due to the world wide great white shark protection. As a result we are seeing more shark attacks.

I agree and I beleive you should also throw fisherman in that list.

Biologists face a necessary evil that if they need to be tagged they have to get them close to the boat.

Just tag them with a torpedo from a distance.

I just had a interesting reply on one of my emails that also puts up a good argument.

It was in response to the first post in this thread. They talk about shark numbers spiking when Sheep Ships are in the area and have showed that in there reference and apparently they now have some supporting scientists who are seriously looking into that theory. But my question as to why now, and they said they aren't obviously 100% sure but believe it could be to do with the fact that many of the other areas that Great Whites would have been found through out the world like the African continent has now had there fish stokes decimated by over fishing leaving the great whites looking for food in different areas. So it could be over fishing in other parts of the world sending them here

Could be a reason why the jump in numbers

chrispychru said...
fark i love lamb...i would travel for it

Looks like they home delivery if what JB is saying

Hard to do research on them when u can't catch the farkers but a least we get to watch the 4/5 tagged ones swim around and torment the crap out of everyone