Cull caution urged after city beach shark attack
There is little evidence that shark culls are keeping oceangoers safer, experts warn after the latest shocking encounter on a busy city beach.
The coastal community was shaken after a woman, apparently in her 30s, was seriously injured by a shark at Sydney’s popular Coogee Beach on Saturday.
The great white shark, a protected species, is thought to be responsible.
This follows a series of attacks across the country, including multiple bull shark bites in Sydney Harbour.
The latest incident has reignited calls for culling to protect swimmers, which NSW Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty has not publicly ruled out.
University of Adelaide environmental science program director Brianna Le Brusque said harmful encounters with predators were tragic and discussions about culling were an understandable response.
But he said there is no science on how many animals would need to be removed to keep swimmers safe, and there is no evidence it would meaningfully improve community safety.
Surveillance methods to warn swimmers were more effective but complicated by a flight path that kept drones out of the air around Coogee.
Dr Le Brusque told AAP there were other detection options, including the use of spotters from vantage points.
Federal Labor MP for Kingsford Smith Matt Thistlewaite said aviation safety was crucial but supported research into drones flying at low altitudes.
He was not in favor of shark culls.
Shark nets, another method of separating humans from marine predators, will be installed in early September, but the NSW government is seeking expert advice from the Department for Primary Industries.
RMIT University Vice-Chancellor Senior Research Fellow and sport and environment expert Rebecca Olive said there were multiple types of shark nets, some completely enclosed and some free swimming.
Seasonal nets that do not reach the seabed have few supporters, he told AAP.
“Whales, dolphins, turtles, stingrays and birds get caught in them and they can’t stop anything.”
Dr Oliver said shark encounters always caused “huge suffering” for individuals and families, as well as communities.
“These are really difficult issues, and the people who are interested in these issues are people who love the ocean.”
NSW independent MP Rod Roberts supports removing sharks in the interest of community safety, while NSW opposition leader Kellie Sloane supports a review of all mitigation measures, including culls.
“We need to put people before sharks and nothing should be taken off the table,” Ms Sloane said.
Beaches in Sydney’s eastern suburbs were all closed on Sunday and Coogee Surf Life Saving Club hosted a community meeting on Monday evening.
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