SHARK interactions have reached an all-time high! Most of us have experienced problems with sharks. It has changed the way we fish, the gear we use, and the locations we visit.
There’s no doubt shark depredation has become a huge problem.
The spate of shark attacks in Sydney and Northern NSW have thrown the problem into the national spotlight. And while shark interactions with surfers and swimmers is a different problem to that of fishing and shark depredation, it really is two sides of the same coin.
It’s also a complex issue. There’s noise from all sides. Some of us suggest there are too many sharks while others still believe they’re endangered… Of course, anyone with a basic understanding of sharks knows there are many species. Some are threatened more than others. And some are more dangerous than others. Lumping them together and simply referring to all as “sharks” while debating these issues is misleading.
In NSW, where instances of depredation and attacks on surfers and swimmers have increased, the commercial shark catch has been heavily reduced over the past 15-20 years. At the same time, while data into their numbers is scarce, evidence points to an increase in bull shark numbers in NSW. Scientists point to an increase in bull sharks moving south as oceans warm. Scientists are also suggesting these sharks are staying longer in southern waters. The above sure sounds feasible, but it’s also fair to say, given the protections we’ve seen over the past 20 years, that bull shark numbers have skyrocketed.
In our view these numbers are a balance, and as fishos, or surfers, we’re part of the equation.
Government does have an obligation to tip the balance back in favour of sustainable fish stocks by reducing depredation. And it does have an obligation to keep people safe in the water. This problem won’t go away on its own.
Managing stocks and reducing shark numbers isn’t an extreme suggestion. Governments manage fish and animals all the time for ecological reasons.
Here’s hoping our governments are taking this seriously by looking at data and listening to fishos and are willing to take action.
For a different perspective, Zac from our On The Sauce Podcast recently interviewed shark expert Dr. Leo Guida from the Australian Marine Conservation Society. It’s a long and open conversation about sharks, how they intersect with fishing and people using our waterways, and the real risks involved.
Zac Panaretos catches up with chefs and fishos to chat about catching, cooking, and sustainable seafood.
In this episode we sit down with Dr. Leo Guida from the Australian Marine Conservation Society for a long, open conversation about sharks, how they intersect with fishing and people using our waterways, and the real risks involved.
We talk through the data and trends, and importantly how effective current management strategies actually are when humans and sharks share the same spaces.
It is not a debate, more a pub-style back and forth, asking honest questions and digging into a topic I am genuinely on the fence about and keen to understand better.
More info at fishingworld.com.au.
