Shark culling protects politicians more than people, experts say as calls for a cull reignite

Shark attack and policy experts claim shark culls don’t work and are done to protect politicians rather than people.

Sydney mother Leah Stewart became the last person to be bitten by a shark in Australia, having her arm amputated while in hospital.

Ms Stewart, 35, became the 12th person to be attacked by a shark in Australia in 2026 after being mauled by a 3.5m great white shark at Sydney’s Coogee Beach last Saturday.

The mother, who has undergone multiple surgeries following life-threatening injuries, remains in intensive care.

A GoFundMe page set up by his brother Josh has raised more than $400,000 to help with his recovery.

Recent shark attacks across the country have reignited calls for shark culls; Former prime minister Tony Abbott was among those who made this call.

The NSW government has not ruled out culling, but many experts agree they don’t work and say they are for politicians rather than people.

“There is no evidence that shark culls work because the number of people using the ocean is so high,” said shark attack and policy expert Chris Pepin-Neff.

“We know shark culls are more about protecting politicians than protecting swimmers.”

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Professor Pepin-Neff said the increase in attacks was related to “beach use” rather than an increase in the number of sharks in the water, despite it being the worst “cluster” in the 20-year study.

“We’ve had a particularly terrible year but we could go another five years without a shark attack in Australia and people will point to shark culling as the solution,” they said.

“But the reality is that the ocean is random. The amount of variables that go into human-shark interaction is extraordinarily high. Hundreds of variables need to collide.”

Emeritus professor Rob Harcourt, who leads a marine predator research group at Macquarie University, told The Guardian Australia that Mr Abbott did not understand the science when he called for a cull.

Professor Harcourt said: “What is the point of culling? A culling does not change the risk unless you completely remove white sharks from the ocean. This is not possible and would be an ecological disaster.”

Four out of 12 attacks in 2026 will be fatal.

Twelve-year-old Nico Antic died after being bitten by a bull shark in Sydney Harbor in January, while three other spearfishermen, Steven Mattaboni, Michael Jensz and Daniel Turpin, were also attacked and killed in separate incidents.

Professor Pepin-Neff said spearfishing attracts sharks due to the vibration of the fish when hit with the harpoon, which is why he “hates” shark nets.

They said that fish were caught there and it vibrated, which brought the sharks closer.

“All the data says that if there is an attractant in the water, unless you kill all the sharks, (the shark) will be attracted to the attractant,” Professor Pepin-Neff said.

“And if you kill them all, then you have to figure out what to do with the species they keep in line.”

Jodie Rummer, professor of marine biology at James Cook University, agrees.

“I think we’ve learned enough lessons in science and biology to show us that when we remove predators from an ecosystem, it disrupts the entire ecosystem and it takes decades, if not a century, to fix that,” he told the ABC.

Professor Pepin-Neff called on the government to “nationalise the process” of shark management to help ensure the safety of swimmers.

“I want more people to use the ocean… so what we need to do is create more permanent or temporary enclosures (so people can swim safely),” they said.

Professor Pepin-Neff added that there was another obvious fix that would help reduce the number of attacks.

In September 2024, the NSW-based company Ocean Guardian was liquidated.

The retailer was known for its innovative Shark Shield shark repellent device, which protects users from violent or fatal shark attacks.

Shark Shield technology, which sells for about $800, disrupts the highly sensitive receptors on sharks’ noses using an electric field, allowing the shark to move away from the area but leaving no permanent damage to the animal.

“I don’t understand why the Australian government hasn’t bought the patent for Shark Shield. Shark Shield, the electronic shark deterrent… is the most proven technology to protect people from sharks,” Pepin-Neff said.

“It was bought by a company that stopped production, so I don’t understand why the Australian government doesn’t step in and buy the patent, make 5000 of them, subsidize them and give it to people to nationalize the process.

“There are things that will work, shark culling definitely won’t work, so if you’re putting people before sharks you should really do it.”