www.news.com.au/breaking-news/diver-killed-by-shark-off-busselton/news-story/7d0d03bd26cc964e4b66fc218ae6870c

In the face of increasing shark fatalities, should conservation laws that increase the danger to the general public be repealed?

RIP buddy

^^
Yeah, we've been through these debates too many times now and never gets us anywhere. It seams we very quickly forget that it's a person's life that we're arguing about, and I'll be the first to admit I'm the worst when it comes to that.

Sad stuff indeed. Coincidentally, two days ago my Dad issued a new license for someone to go out and tag white pointers. The biologist even said to my Dad that he hopes they can even find any...and just this morning I was given a book about shark attacks. Bleergh.

Last week a couple of body boarders got harassed by a 4m white at the box. The shark repeatedly swam at them then turned away and circled out in the ocean.

Poida said...

Last week a couple of body boarders got harassed by a 4m white at the box. The shark repeatedly swam at them then turned away and circled out in the ocean.

There is always a shark hanging around the Box, just not a 4m white. The shark, a Bronze, has been frequenting the break for at least a decade. Has chased a few people, but never attacked anyone due to the fact that there is plenty of other food around.

Great state, great waves, Great Whites!!!!!! What's with all the hungry predators over there? Sad news to the family, they would be feeling numb right now. We've also had tragic news for local Sunshine Coast family losing their 14yo lifesaving son last week. Hits the family and community hard.

Just remember that they are not effective while you're paddling around. The leash needs to sink and dangle down before it starts really working. Something to consider if you're like me and can't stay still in the line up.

kwalkington said...

hey suba must be good to be such an expert,

Yeah, it beats being a retard. Oh sorry, I meant 'mentally handicapped'. Hope I didn't offend you.

I think the shark shield is a good investment between mates if you surf as a crew regulary. The given shark exclusion zone of 3-5 metres seems reasonable. $650 split between a crew isnt gonna hurt the beer fund. Sure there is the chance that the big fish might grab one of you whilst another is on the wave...
Instead of culling or netting beaches, why dont the government invest in a large sized frequency transmitter that has a range of several k's?... its possible.

subasurf said...

Because sharks have a vital role to play in the eco system and shooing them away is not doing any good. Culling and netting are certainly worse alternatives, but giant 'shark shields' aren't going to do the marine environment any good.

Not sure where you are studying marine science, but my guess is College of the Siskiyous, at their new satellite campus in Ougadougou.

soleman said...

Hey smicko try 1.6ks off the beach and four fatalities in 6 months is not cool, then try to remember south point not that long ago. the south west communities are shocked again today so please lets not turn this into a high and mighty "you all know the risks session". Some one has been killed today! That bloke in cott was about 350m off the beach, less than the distance of surfing margs on a decent day. the bloke on rotto was anchored just out of one of the bays over there, Also dont forget the poor bloke in port kennedy, the two at cott in the early years of the 2000's, a survivor off bunbury, Brad smith in gracetown etc. End of the day it is terrible and nobody wants this sort of stuff happening. please, lets keep it cool this time lads.

Hey soleman, my comment was based on an earlier report that had the brothers 15km off Port Geo marina, rather than 15km NORTH of Port Geo marina. Regardless 1.6k's is still a long way offshore and I dare say they would've been in 8-10m+ of water plus a pretty damn good chance of them spearfishing or looping crays - feeding stimuli. It's the sort of country these things live and feed in. If you don't want to risk being a statistic don't go there.

I know I get spooked anytime I'm surfing North or South Points and many other places along that stretch, however I weigh up the odds and that's a choice I choose to make. Tell ya what though, there's no fkn way you'd catch me paddling across the bay from one break to the other. Nor would you find me swimming 350m off Cott in 10m+ of water and having lived on The Rock for nearly three years I can tell you I was always very circumspect about diving around the Island. I was just careful about how I did it, I never, EVER dived around Cathy's and generally stuck pretty close to the shore, there's still plenty of nice fish, swim throughs etc without venturing hundreds of meters offshore.

In Indo I paddle across deep water without a second thought, I won't do it here. That's what I mean by "We all know the risks and it's up to us..."

As in my previous post, if we had more instances like Brian Guest's death(15m or so from the beach in 5m of water) then I'd be happy to look at culling but we simply don't. The stats are saying that if you swim or dive in 10m+ of water or surf around areas with a steep drop off and/or seals then you have an increased chance of an encounter. It's up to us to make that choice.

An interesting point that i heard recently was that the highest incidence of tagged sharks setting of transmitters or marker buoys (sorry not explaining this well) is actually just of the southern side of Ocean reef harbour.

Deep water channel so i guess they are moving with the current..

Not making any point just sharing some info that i was told. (via a fisheries guy as well)

A question for those with the surfing shark shields. Why do you think that you wouldn't get hit in the actual surf? I agree the paddle is the worst part but history will show they hit surfers in surf as well. (serous question, i'm just curious of the thinking)

Worse for me was once a Decent tiger had us standing on a reef out near Little Cray fish rock. It would then swim through the channels blocking our exit..Took courage at 14 to jump and sprint to the next rock. Took for ever to get back in.

smicko said...

soleman said...

Hey smicko try 1.6ks off the beach and four fatalities in 6 months is not cool, then try to remember south point not that long ago. the south west communities are shocked again today so please lets not turn this into a high and mighty "you all know the risks session". Some one has been killed today! That bloke in cott was about 350m off the beach, less than the distance of surfing margs on a decent day. the bloke on rotto was anchored just out of one of the bays over there, Also dont forget the poor bloke in port kennedy, the two at cott in the early years of the 2000's, a survivor off bunbury, Brad smith in gracetown etc. End of the day it is terrible and nobody wants this sort of stuff happening. please, lets keep it cool this time lads.

Hey soleman, my comment was based on an earlier report that had the brothers 15km off Port Geo marina, rather than 15km NORTH of Port Geo marina. Regardless 1.6k's is still a long way offshore and I dare say they would've been in 8-10m+ of water plus a pretty damn good chance of them spearfishing or looping crays - feeding stimuli. It's the sort of country these things live and feed in. If you don't want to risk being a statistic don't go there.

I know I get spooked anytime I'm surfing North or South Points and many other places along that stretch, however I weigh up the odds and that's a choice I choose to make. Tell ya what though, there's no fkn way you'd catch me paddling across the bay from one break to the other. Nor would you find me swimming 350m off Cott in 10m+ of water and having lived on The Rock for nearly three years I can tell you I was always very circumspect about diving around the Island. I was just careful about how I did it, I never, EVER dived around Cathy's and generally stuck pretty close to the shore, there's still plenty of nice fish, swim throughs etc without venturing hundreds of meters offshore.

In Indo I paddle across deep water without a second thought, I won't do it here. That's what I mean by "We all know the risks and it's up to us..."

As in my previous post, if we had more instances like Brian Guest's death(15m or so from the beach in 5m of water) then I'd be happy to look at culling but we simply don't. The stats are saying that if you swim or dive in 10m+ of water or surf around areas with a steep drop off and/or seals then you have an increased chance of an encounter. It's up to us to make that choice.

Understandably so smicko but lets just have a little bit af tact from time to time. I was not having a crack at your opinion and was emotionally charged when i replied to your post, i do agree that we all have our own thoughts and views and they are valid for debate, but the timing was out mate, two young kids and a wife lost their Dad / husband, a family lost their son / brother. the population of the south west from margs to bunbury are either keen surfers, fishos, divers (or all) are tight knit and were shocked as i already mentioned. Stratham is west of capel and not many can say they have seen a big boy out there before, like cow bay it was seen as a pretty safe place for a dive in comparison to the capes region. "there's still plenty of nice fish, swim throughs etc without venturing hundreds of meters offshore." maybe on rotto, not so much here.

jbshack said...

The other interesting point is how many spots actually already have a resident big GW shark. In Fact there were even warnings for the Busselton and Dunsborough region regarding a big shark over the last few weeks.

Is it then considered reckless to enter the water knowing there is a shark in the area

Just wanting a reasonable debate, not a flaming

Most beach car parks (e.g. Woodies) have "resident" thieves. There are warning signs ("Look, Lock, Leave"). Is it then considered reckless to park there, knowing there may be a car thief in the area?

I Dont want to inflame the subject so please don't take this the wrong way. My wife was listening to the radio yesturday and there was crew from the wa govt taking about a shark breeding program that is currently in place. When asked about the numbers of sharks and the safety of people in relation to shark numbers the govt rep said no comment. No comment is a bit piss pore. this is the first I have heard of such a program and as i am writing this i have decided to find out a bit more about the matter. Has any one heard about the shark breeding program?