What seems like a spike in shark attacks has some people worried about going for a swim in the sea. It's prompted politicians and experts to get together and discuss solutions.
These beaches might look like a great place for a dip, but swimmers have been told to keep out of the water. The reason? Sharks. Here at the Whitsundays, there have been three attacks in the past two months. WA and NSW have both seen attacks recently, too. All up this year, there've been 36 attacks across Australia and one person has died.
Experts say shark attacks happen randomly and aren't as common as people might fear.
PROFESSOR COLIN SIMPFENDORFER: While shark bites are very rare, we quite often see these clusters possibly because conditions are conducive in areas at time to time.
Part of the reason is that only a handful of sharks are actually dangerous to people. Mostly white, tiger and bull sharks. There used to be more shark attacks in Queensland before a big shark control program began in 1962. That involved installing nets in some areas and drumlines, which are a sort of anchored fishing lines that bait sharks. The Whitsundays don't have drumlines or nets. Experts say the area isn't particularly suitable for them. But locals want something done quickly.
LOCAL: It is very odd, some ecological has happened there to attract all the sharks.
An emergency meeting was called. It was agreed that swimming should be banned at Cid Harbour, the site of the attacks. The Queensland Government also decided to spend 250 thousand dollars researching shark behaviour and to raise awareness about how people can minimise the risk of being attacked. But some say the measures aren't strong enough. One suggestion was for some sharks to be culled.
KEITH PITT, MP: We also cull kangaroos and in the southern states we cull koalas. So why shouldn't we control shark numbers?
The argument is human lives should be protected above all else. And fewer sharks might means fewer attacks. But, the QLD Government doesn't think that's a good idea and most experts say culling sharks won't save lives.
TONY FONTES, TOURISM OPERATOR: Culling sharks has never been proven to be an effective way of keeping swimmers safe that is antiquated technology, there are better ways of keeping swimmers safe.
Instead, they suggest focusing on long-term solutions like better nets or technology that might repel sharks. And education programs to make sure swimmers know when to swim and when not to.
But what do you reckon?
BOY 1: I don't think we should be killing sharks at the moment because there are a lot of other methods that can be tested and tried out and came up with, but if those methods don't work, as a last resort, we should probably put humans before sharks I guess.
BOY 2: I wouldnt kill the animal because it is their territory and it's where they do live.
GIRL 1: I don't think that culling the sharks is the best idea.
GIRL 2: Stay in the flags, always have someone else out there with you. And when you're swimming don't be alone, just in case anything happens.
