Some statistics on shark attacks

* Shark data represents the number of attacks worldwide, not deaths. Only 4 out of those 62 attacks resulted in death.
NB: Some of these statistics are based on USA reports

Source: http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/10/31/how-scared-should-we-be/

• In the last 20 years, there have been 24 recorded fatalities due to shark attack = averages 1.2 per year. In the last 50 years, there have been 53 recorded fatalities due to shark attack = averages 1.06 per year

• During the period 1969-2000, in NSW alone, 218 rock fishermen were swept off the rocks and drowned. In that same period 40 shark encounters were recorded with only 2 fatality reported. (Source: Taronga Zoo Australian Shark Attack File http://www.taronga.org.au/tcsa/conservations-programs/australian-shark-attack-file/general-information.aspx)

• On average there are 80 drowning deaths each year (Beachsafe Newsletter, Issue 16, 2009).

• Diving related deaths in Australia 1945-1987 = 292 (Diving Accident Management in Australia, 1988).

• "Eleven Australians were killed by lightning in the years 1983 to 1986", (John Sedgwick, Lightning Natures Terrible Swift Sword, Readers Digest, January 1990).

• On average there are 2-3 deaths per year from Bee stings in Australia (Dr Van Nunen Royal North Shore Hospital Allergy Unit. Feb 3rd 1989. Manly Daily). Three people died from bee stings in 1995 (Aust. Bureau of Statistics).

• On average, there is only one person per year killed by shark attack in Australia over the last 218 years.

Find more statistics about shark attacks at: http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/sharks/statistics/statsw.htm

Additional sources of information on sharks and shark nets for further interest

The online books, scholarly articles, websites, campaigns, and you tube clips available in this section are useful resources for gaining further understanding and insight into shark nets and the misconceptions surrounding their use. These sources also provide information on sharks (and in particular the different shark species within NSW waters) and how important these marine creatures are to our marine ecosystems. This information expands on that already contained here on the No Nets site and shows just how important it is for us to remove nets from NSW beaches- both to protect swimmers more effectively and to protect sharks so that our seas stay healthy!

1. The PDF file download from this website investigates various misconceptions surrounding shark nets and the truth about them. It gives an excellent insight into the issue. Give it a read! The website itself is from the Nature Conservation of NSW and offers many extra links to save the sharks, adopt sharks, recreational fishing and a shark net survey to test your knowledge!

http://nccnsw.org.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1428&Itemid=711

2. Save our Sharks campaign website - this campaign is a local Sydney campaign that also addresses various misconceptions about shark nets and offers alternatives, asking “What Can We Do?”

http://www.saveoursharks.com.au/Save_Our_Sharks_-_Shark_Nets.html

3. This is a website about Shark Bait which also delves into WHY shark attacks occur and therefore is a useful resource for addressing some of the misconceptions about sharks themselves. The site/blog also has some youtube videos at the bottom of the page that are interesting to watch

http://hubpages.com/hub/Shark-Bait

4. This is a link to a scholarly article which compares shark control programmes in NSW and QLD. The article is a PDF file- this is just a link to the website- which you will need to download to read. The article looks at shark nets, the long term viability of them as a mechanism of protection, and how successful they are in protecting swimmers from sharks. The comparison presented in this article allows for a better understanding of how well this technique is working and focuses particularly on NSW shark nets.

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6VG5-3SWJM2G-1&_user=10&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&_docanchor=&view=c&_searchStrId=1053439643&_rerunOrigin=scholar.google&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=7ef60cfa1a7

5. This online book "Sharks and Rays of NSW" provides background information about different Sharks and Rays of NSW. This resource is useful for broadening your knowledge of Sharks and for further research into the area.

http://www.publish.csiro.au/samples/Sharks%20and%20Rays%20of%20Australia-Contents.pdf

6. This website is useful for gaining a better understanding of WHY shark nets were used in NSW originally and in particular looks at the fact that shark nets were installed as a response to the negative impact of shark attacks on local tourism. The website writes about various species of sharks that are captured within the shark control program and goes on to discuss the successes and problems of the program.

http://www.fao.org/docrep/003/x2098e/X2098E15.htm

7. A link to the report into the shark-meshing program in NSW (the “Bather Protection Program”). The article, in essence, is concerned with the existing shark meshing program (the program currently implemented within NSW waters) and provides an assessment of these programs. The article is very in-depth, but is split into sections for easier reading, offering particular points on sharks, rays, and other marine animals as well as how the shark meshing program affects them.

http://www.sacf.org.au/ourpdf/Report-into-the-NSW-Shark-Meshing-Program.pdf

8. The report, "The Importance of Predators", addresses WHY we need sharks in our waters. It offers an array of information on the importance of sharks within the ecosystem, building on the information already contained on the No Nets website.

http://www.sacf.org.au/ourpdf/Report-into-the-NSW-Shark-Meshing-Program.pdf

9. An excellent DVD/Video to borrow is Valerie and Ron Taylor’s documentary "Shark Pod". This documentary looks at various protective ocean devices (like those discussed in the post on Alternatives to Shark Nets) and how successful they are. It provides viewers with a greater understanding of the various electronics available for shark surveillance and conservation which can be put in place instead of shark nets.

10. This video, "Coastcare: The problem with shark nets", is taken from a NSW news show and details just how many environmentalists in Sydney are fighting for shark nets to be removed- and to stop being implemented- at NSW beaches.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hTqVc023fs&feature=related

11. The following website and you tube clip delve into the Save Our Seas' campaign and Maxine the shark. The aims of the website and thus the entire campaigns include Awareness, protection, preservation and conservation of the global marine environment –

**http://www.aoca.org.za/maxine_ed.htm is an interesting website for the realisation of how important sharks are to marine ecosystems. The website’s rationale is based upon ‘saving the sharks’ and what we can do to protect the many species of shark that are currently endangered or threatened. The website is a useful resource and campaign aimed not only at saving the sharks but saving our seas.

**http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5_qB_MinOM "A Shark’s Legacy" - this youtube clip is about a ragged tooth shark named Maxine (the focus of the previous website's campaign). The clip provides an interesting way of gaining a further understanding into the need for shark conservation and describes the conservation program that currently exists.

High-tech solutions for reduction in shark attacks

The article below comes from the Sydney Morning Herald.

No Nets response - The focus on alternatives to shark nets is encouraging, as is the decision to check nets every 3 days instead of 4.

However the refusal of the NSW government to remove shark nets all together, in spite of evidence that they don't work and that they harm endangered marine life, is disappointing.

Furthermore, refusal to change the mesh size from 60cm to a much smaller size (in which less animals would become trapped) highlights that the real purpose of the nets is to trap sharks, not prevent them from accessing our beaches.

Write to the NSW Government now to let them know we don't accept this decision!

High-tech solutions for reduction in shark attacks
By Miles Godfrey, August 22, 2009

The military and NSW government are adopting high-tech new methods to prevent a repeat of last summer's spate of shark attacks.

The NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) will this week introduce a new DNA database designed to further research into shark population, size and movements.

It will also begin monitoring shark nets, due to be reinstalled at 51 NSW beaches on September 1, by GPS to help prevent harm to other marine life.

A new shark and turtle tagging program is also being started and shark nets will be checked every three days rather than every four.

The measures are in direct response to last summer's series of shark attacks in NSW which caused serious injuries to several people.

It comes as NSW Green MP Ian Cohen branded the nets "next to useless" and warned that endangered species, including the grey nurse shark, could be wiped out by them.

"The nets sag down like baggy underpants, so sharks can just swim over them while turtles and other creatures are caught up and killed," he said.

"To me they are window dressing, they are next to useless for the purpose they are designed.

"It is essentially 1930s technology and I think we can and should be doing a lot better."
The DPI's measures are contained in a new report outlining attempts to lessen the impact of shark nets on marine life.

The report confirms no extra nets are being laid this summer and there will be no change in the size of the 60cm mesh used.

Sydney beaches that will be netted are Bondi, Bronte, Coogee, Maroubra, Wanda, Elouera, North Cronulla, Cronulla, Wattamolla and Garie.

Another 41 beaches in NSW will be netted between Stockton and South Wollongong.

Meanwhile the Navy said it is introducing several new measures including use of electronic shark repellents, upgraded medical facilities and a new tool to detect the presence of sharks.

It is in direct response to the shark attack on Navy clearance diver Paul de Gelder.
de Gelder lost an arm after a 2.7 metre bull shark bit him at Woolloomooloo as he took part in an anti-terrorism exercise.

"Following the shark attack on de Gelder, Navy developed a shark presence planning tool to assess the risk of shark attack and also acquired shark repellent devices," a Defence Department spokesman said.

"A review of Navy's diving practices has resulted in the development of a dangerous marine animal risk profile, revised dive planning processes, upgraded medical kits and trauma incident training."

Repellents used by the Navy have been tested by Australian divers involved in the recovery of bodies from the recent ferry disaster near Tonga.

There were a series of shark attacks in NSW last summer although statistics show the overall number of attacks is falling and experts maintain the risk of attack is tiny.

The Australian Shark Attack File, maintained by Taronga Zoo, shows there is an average of 1 fatality from shark attacks per year.

Far more people die from drowning every year while swimming or diving.

"The old saying that you are more likely to die on the way to the beach is still true. We have to keep this in proportion," a spokesman for Taronga Zoo said.

"The main thing to remember is to avoid the danger times of dawn and dusk and to swim in areas patrolled by lifeguards.

Waverley Council mayor Sally Bett is confident Bondi beach will be safe this summer.

"I think Bondi is one of the safest places to swim, particular if you swim between the flags and during daylight hours," she said on Saturday.

"We are one of the netted beaches and we have lifeguards year around during daylight hours so that certainly makes us one of the safest beaches.

"Considering the hundreds of thousand of people who swim at Bondi our record is pretty good."

Source: http://www.smh.com.au/national/hightech-solutions-for-reduction-in-shark-attacks-20090822-eufj.html

Alternatives to Shark Nets

No Nets encourages research and development into alternative shark-deterring technologies.

We also support the use of aerial patrols of our beaches in Summer to help warn beach-goers if any sharks are around.

A summary of some other potential technologies are below.


Shark Enclosures:
Shark enclosures provide an enclosed, unbroken full length net across the beach. The size of the mesh is much smaller than shark nets, protecting marine life from getting tangled.

(R Meerman 2009)

Shark Shield:
Shark shield emits an electrical wave that reaches up to 8 metres from the device. This wave is picked up by the ‘Ampullae of Lorenzini’ (gel-filled sacks on the sharks snout), and creates discomfort for the shark. The closer the shark comes to the device, the more unpleasant the experience is, therefore, deterring the shark. Once the shark is out of range, there are no lingering or harmful after affects.

(Shark Shield 2009)

Sonar Systems:
There are many sonar systems that will detect a shark before it gets close to the shore. Once the shark is detected, boats and helicopters are sent out to herd the shark further away from the shore or lifeguards are notified to evacuate the beach.



(Shark Marine 2009)

Locations of Shark Nets in NSW

There are at the present time 51 sharks nets in place on New South Wales beaches killing our precious marine life.





(Coastal Ambassadors 2006)

Misconceptions about sharks

Misconception: Sharks attacks are on the rise and highly likely

Reality: Looking at the media you would think that shark attacks were increasing quickly and massively which has understandably caused many members of the public to fear the rising danger of shark attacks. However the truth is these media articles are pure hype. Shark attacks are NOT on the rise!

The number of attacks reported each year has not seen a dramatic increase. Yes, we hear more about them on the news and there is an increase compared to 20 years ago but there has also been a massive increase in the number of beach goers, the ability to accurately record all attacks, media interest in sharks AND despite all this the numbers are still low and the risk is far less than that of other dangers. Last year there were 59 shark attacks worldwide with only 4 fatalities. Most of these attacks were single bites where the shark did not bite again or even intend to. This level of attacks is in fact 11 lower than the year before, the same level as in 1997 and less than 1994 level! The number of attacks fluctuates depending on factors such as the number of beach goers however it has NOT risen significantly over the past few years.

Yes, shark attacks are a potential danger when you go to the beach. But so is drowning, heatstroke, surfing accidents, dehydration, jellyfish stings, sunburn...the list goes on! In fact statistics show that more people are injured and killed driving to and from the beachthe risk of attack is far less than that of other beach-related injuries, and even less likely compared to other risks we expose ourselves to everyday (car accidents, dog bites, the flu etc). Just take a look at some of the comparative risks than are killed and injured by shark attacks. One thing is clear: shark attacks are NOT a likely occurrence of your beach visit!

Sources:

Discovery Channel Shark Weekend: Myth vs Reality - http://www.blogger.com/www.discoverychannel.co.uk/web/shark-weekend/myth-vs-reality/

Shark attacks in perspective - http://www.blogger.com/www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/sharks/Attacks/perspect.htm

Shark Savers: Shark Myths - http://www.sharksavers.org/en/education/shark-myths/12-myth-shark-attack.html

Misconception: Sharks seek out humans

Reality: Firstly, of the 346 different species of sharks that exist only 3 species (white sharks, tiger sharks and bull sharks) make up 2/3 of all attacks. Even then, research shows that most “attacks” did not happen with the intention to eat the victim. Rather in most cases the “attack” is a form of inquisitive testing by a shark or else is a reaction to humans invading a shark’s personal space or provoking it. Most “attacks” are accidental and only involve one bite before the shark realises its mistake and moves away. Very few attacks result in fatal injuries.

Research clearly shows that sharks are not “attracted” to humans as a source of food. Sharks will only kill if they sense that the catch has enough calorific content to make further attack worthwhile. Thankfully humans don’t have enough body fat to interest sharks! We’re just not worth it! This is why there are very few fatalities resulting from shark attacks and even those fatalities are generally not because the shark intended to kill.

Sharks are not unselective, killer beasts. Each species favours particular food and NONE of them have humans as their target prey. The number of deaths resulting from shark attacks is extremely low and are generally not the result of a "targeted attack." We humans in fact kill more sharks then sharks kill humans (see below). If anything we seek them out!

Sources:

Shark savers: Shark Myths - http://www.blogger.com/www.sharksavers.org/en/education/shark-myths/52-myth-sharks-eat-anything.html

Australian Shark Attacks - http://adl.brs.gov.au/brsShop/data/12984_attacks_sharks.pdf

Misconception: Shark populations are growing, making attacks more likely

Reality: One common conclusion people come to after hearing about shark attacks in the media is that shark populations are increasing dramatically, making the likelihood of attack even greater. This conclusion is completely inaccurate. Shark populations are in fact dwindling rapidly, threatening the survival of many species and of marine ecosystems in general.

The growing demand for shark meat- for consumption or medical purposes- as well as the increasing volumes of bycatch have resulted in the overfishing of shark populations and the rapid decline of their numbers. At present 250 000 sharks are killed each day by humans. Many species are needing protection to avoid extinction. The hammerhead shark, for example, has had a population decrease of 89% in the last 20 years!

"Sharks help maintain the health of ocean ecosystems, including seagrass beds and coral reefs. Healthy oceans undoubtedly depend on sharks." If we want our oceans to survive then we need to overcome this incorrect, dangerous view that sharks are "evil" and we would be better off without them. Sharks are not man-eaters but humans are shark-eaters.

Sources:

Predators as Prey: Why Healthy Oceans Need Sharks -http://na.oceana.org/sites/default/files/o/fileadmin/oceana/uploads/Sharks/Predators_as_Prey_FINAL_FINAL.pdf

Discovery Channel Shark Weekend: Myth vs Reality - http://www.blogger.com/www.discoverychannel.co.uk/web/shark-weekend/myth-vs-reality/

Our Allies

If you are interested in issues related to shark nets in New South Wales, check out the following organisations.

Humane Society International Australia

http://www.hsi.org.au/?catID=116

The Australian branch of the global Human Society International works to protect animals and their habitats, in conjunction with such organisations as the United Nations and the World Trade Organisation. HSI Australia puts in place practical solutions to environmental problems, focusing on biodiversity, climate change, habitat protection, sustainable farming, disaster relief, and extinction prevention. They also devote efforts to protect sharks, and advocate for the removal of shark nets.

Save Our Sharks

http://www.saveoursharks.com.au/Save_Our_Sharks_-_About_Us.html

Save Our Sharks is a small organisation dedicated to the protection of sharks. They fight to raise awareness of shark-related issues through the sale of merchandise and petitions to decision-making bodies. The removal of shark nets is a major aim of Save Our Sharks.

Save Our Seas Foundation

http://www.saveourseas.com/sharknets

Save Our Seas Foundation is an NGO based in Switzerland focused on the protection of the marine environment. The organisation has four principles: conservation, awareness, research and education. Save Our Seas runs a campaign to remove shark nets, however it is particularly focused on those in South Africa.

Nature Conservation Council of NSW

http://www.nccnsw.org.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1428&Itemid=711

This not-for-profit NGO is comprised of over around one hundred and twenty local community environmental organisations, with the aim of protecting the natural environment. Their work takes three forms, campaigning, advice and education. In line with their aim to protect animals, the Nature Conservation Council is fighting for the removal of shark nets.

Sydney Aquarium Conservation Fund

http://www.sacf.org.au/projects/36-current-projects-sydney-aquarium-conservation-fund/3-shark-nets-sydney

The Sydney Aquarium Conservation Fund (SACF) is, as the name suggests, linked to the Sydney Aquarium. It focuses on three areas of environmental work, conservation, research and education. SACF is running a campaign to raise community awareness of issues related to shark nets, funded by a grant from Envirofund. Although SACF is generally opposed to shark nets, the focus is more on education than on campaigning for their removal.

Oceanic Defense

http://oceanicdefense.blogspot.com/2009/08/why-shark-nets-are-not-answer.html

Oceanic Defense is a United States-based international organisation with the aim, “Healthy Aquatic Ecosystems free from human abuse and neglect.” The removal of shark nets and the altering of commonly held misconceptions about sharks forms part of Oceanic Defense’s broader marine campaign.

Australian Greens

http://greens.org/

The Australian Greens is a significant political party, both at a commonwealth and a state level, with five senators in the federal parliament. New South Wales MP Ian Cohen manages the environment and water portfolio and is outspoken against the use of shark nets.

Misconceptions about shark nets

Misconception 1 – Shark nets are an effective physical barrier between sharks and our beaches

• Fact: Shark nets do not provide a complete barrier. "The shark mesh nets do not act as a complete barrier to sharks reaching beaches as they are not permanently set in the water, do not cover the whole length of the beach, and do not extend from the water surface to the seabed. In fact, approximately 40% of shark entanglements occur on the beach side of the nets, because sharks are able to swim over and around the nets." – Point two in the Fisheries Scientific Committees listing of shark meshing as a key threatening process



Source: http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/208319/FR24-shark-meshing.pdf
Image source: http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2002/03/07/2116717.htm

• Fact: Open water shark mesh nets are different to small-meshed shark-proof swimming enclosures in estuaries. These form a true barrier running surface to bottom and strung with both ends to shore. The small mesh size ensures that sharks are not caught or injured, but also means they cannot be used in open water where the nets could be damaged or destroyed by rough surf

• Fact: Shark nets used at open beaches in NSW have holes 50cm wide, large enough to entangle sharks and other large marine species. Shark nets are not intended to form complete barriers, but reduce the risk of attack by catching and killing sharks
Source: http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2002/03/07/2116717.htm

Misconception 2 – Shark nets act as a deterrent to shark migration patterns as sharks actively avoid the nets

• Fact: No evidence exists to support this hypothesis. First proposed in a paper by Reid and Krogh (1992, p232), they immediately discard it in the next sentence of the paper, stating that the random temporal placement of nets and varying positions of nets on different days do not support the view that sharks actively avoid nets. Currently the hypothesis still remains unfounded. The sole function of these nets is to kill sharks and reduce their population.

Misconception 3 – The risk of shark attack in Australia, particularly around NSW is very high and therefore killing sharks as well as harmless bycatch is a justifiable risk reduction.

• Fact: Since 1970, shark attack fatalities in Australia have averaged 1.1 per year. In the last 36 years, the NSW population and tourist numbers have increased significantly. In this period there have been only 4 shark-attack fatalities.

• Fact: In other cities such as Florida, America there are numerous shark attacks every year. Despite this, shark nets and culling have never been adopted with the public accepting the risk.

• Fact: In Australia no attempts have been made to quantify the actual risk of shark attacks in terms of numbers of swimmers for a given period of time in a specific area. Thus we have no way of knowing whether the risk of shark attack is increasing, decreasing or remaining level

Misconception 4 – The removal of shark nets will result in a rapid increase in the number of shark attacks. The reason there are no shark attacks today is that shark nets are protecting our beaches.

• Fact: Sharks have very low reproductive potential, only laying a few eggs. Because of this it takes a long time for reduced shark populations to recover, and is why shark numbers are declining worldwide.

• Fact: Shark populations today are very much lower than they were in the 1930s when attacks were more frequent

• Fact: Shark populations were abnormally high in the 1930s due to remains from the Homebush abbatoir flowing out to sea, changing migration patterns. As these human related food sources are no longer available, it is unlikely that shark populations will ever reach those numbers again.

Source: Paxton, J. Misconceptions about Shark Attacks and N.S.W. Shark Meshing (2006) Australian Museum, Sydney.

Accessible online http://nccnsw.org.au/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_details&gid=237&Itemid=99999999

No Nets – what we believe

No Nets is a group that campaigns for the removal of shark nets from NSW beaches.

Shark nets are harmful to all marine life, from endangered grey nurse sharks to migrating humpback whales. Yet they do little to prevent shark attacks on our beaches. No Nets believes that shark nets need to be removed from NSW beaches and replaced with less destructive alternative technologies that will benefit both beach-goers and all marine life.

Source: http://www.iemanya.org/whysharks_en.htm

This is our blog. Here you’ll find a whole lot of information about the issues surrounding our campaign. Find out about:

• Misconceptions about sharks – Hollywood and the media portray them as man-eating beasts but we believe sharks are fragile and endangered animals that play an important role in the ocean’s ecosystems and deserve to be protected.

• Misconceptions about shark nets – find out how shark nets work, where they are placed and how they affect marine life.

• Alternatives to shark nets – an overview of other technologies that exist, current research being carried out and the best ways to avoid shark attacks.

• Locations – are shark nets floating off a beach near you?

• How to take action – use our structure letter to write to the NSW Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries and demand the State Government removes shark nets from our beaches! Also write to the NSW Minister for Climate Change and the Environment and the Federal Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts so they can know what we think about shark nets.

• Events – keep an eye out for some events we’re planning! Upcoming events include a rally in front of the NSW Parliament House and a beach party at Bondi!

• For the media – a statement about who we are, what we believe and what we want.

• More resources – there are lots of great documentaries, movies and books out there about the importance of protecting our marine life and the environmental havoc that shark nets cause. Also find links to other sites and groups with similar aims.

If you support our campaign please join our Facebook group to show your support and help spread the message about shark nets.