Buster fin said..
Timely. I went for a desperation paddle this arvo when there were clearly no waves. Have paddled about 20 meters when two lifeguard trooper mobiles descend with lights flashing and sirens blaring. I dutifully exit the water to be told there were 5 2m sharks spotted down the beach. Am threatened with the police being called if I venture back out, as I was more than willing to do. Am told if I wait 40 minutes I can have my paddle. I suggested that they could have sign posted the threat, so I wouldn't have had to have gotten wet, and was informed that the pathway signs had indeed shown the beach was closed. Bollocks, there was no such notice when I went back up to the carpark. But still, being the upstanding citizen that I am, I jumped into my car, in my wet wetsuit and drive 2kms up the coast for my paddle where the sharks would surely not dream of venturing. Bloody nanny state. Anybody know if there is a legal requirement for me to obey the order of the lifeguard?
Pretty sure if you ignore the lifeguards, the cops can be called and charges laid. They need to tinker with how they manage sharks. For the Rottnest Channel swim and triathlon they have now changed their shark management plan, it used to be if a shark rocks up, swim is canceled. Now they assess the size and type of shark, plus it's behaviour. So if it's a small 2m grey nurse shark, then the swim would go ahead, a 5m hungry GW, different story.
