Sharks: Cull them or be killed, say north coast surfers
SURFERS on the NSW north coast are calling for a shark cull as repeated attacks threaten both lives and livelihoods.
SURFERS on the NSW north coast are calling for a shark cull as repeated attacks threaten both lives and livelihoods.
The calls follow six serious incidents along the coast this year, including the fatal attack on Tadashi Nakahara, 41, in February and attacks last month on bodyboarder Matt Lee, 32, and surfer Craig Ison, 52, who were lucky to survive.
Just yesterday, two “very large sharks” were spotted off Lighthouse Beach — where Mr Lee was attacked — and The Daily Telegraph understands at least five great whites, which range from 3m to more than 5m, are stalking the coastline.
Lennox Head surfing legend Chris “Brocky” Brock, 66, said the logical solution was to reduce the number of great whites before another person lost their life.
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“I think culling them is the wisest thing to do,” he said.
“I’ve been surfing here since the early ’60s, and there were sharks, but you very rarely had someone get attacked by a shark like you’ve got now; there’s too many.”
Mr Brock said while there had been six reported attacks this year, many more went unreported.
Former World Junior Surfing Champion James Wood, 29, who teaches surfing at Lennox Head and Byron Bay, said he had been forced to introduce “shark education” into his lessons.
“If a dog bites a person, you put it down, so why don’t we do the same for sharks,” Mr Wood said.
“When I was a kid going out to surf, we never had to think about getting eaten by a shark. It’s a worry because if one of these kids gets attacked, they won’t survive, a shark would have them in just one bite.”
He said local businesses had been hit as fewer people bought boards and wetsuits and many, including locals, were reluctant to go in the water.
The surfers have called on the state government to follow the lead of Western Australia and introduce a catch-and-kill policy.
Ballina Shire mayor David Wright said the recent shark attacks had a “huge impact” on the town.
“We can’t just sit here and let people get attacked — we’re looking at everything as a solution,” Mr Wright said, adding that support for a cull was growing in the region.
“If you knew that you could get that shark and it had been the one that had bitten someone, I don’t think people would be that upset.”
A Department of Primary Industries spokeswoman said the department did not support culling and great white sharks remained protected.
“The NSW government is continually looking for ways to strengthen and improve shark protections on our beaches,” she said. The government was funding a trial of “innovative technologies”, such as shark-detecting sonars, to complement current shark net programs.
Ballina’s Greens MP Tamara Smith said culling was not a solution to the shark crisis.
“Mick Fanning’s comments were telling when he said he wouldn’t condone the killing of sharks,” Ms Smith said.
“There is money on the table to trial non-lethal deterrents and we are working to ensure Ballina is included in those trials.”
A SURVIVOR’S GIFT TO HIS RESCUERS
Geoff Chambers
BALLINA shark attack survivor Mat Lee will donate funds raised for his rehabilitation to the Westpac Rescue helicopter crew that helped save his life.
The 32-year-old remains at the Gold Coast University Hospital recovering from puncture wounds to his legs and serious nerve damage.
The bodyboarder was attacked in near perfect conditions off Lighthouse Beach at Ballina last month by a giant 4m white pointer.
He suffered severe blood loss and cardiac arrest before being stabilised at the scene by the Westpac rescue crew.
The Mathew Lee Official Support Facebook page — with more than 4500 followers — has released an update on Mr Lee’s condition. Below the update, Mr Lee is seen posing in a photograph with partner Suzy inside hospital, where he has been for the past five weeks.
“He suffered major nerve damage which has been operated on, but at this stage it is still unclear what the impact will be on his long term rehabilitation,” the page said.
Supporters of Mr Lee, who has received support from three-time world surfing champion Mick Fanning, are hosting a fundraiser on Friday at The Point in Ballina.
“Mat has asked that 50 per cent of the funds raised here be donated to the Westpac Rescue Helicopter.”
THE GREAT WHITE BAIT DEBATE A HOT TOPIC
Laura Banks
FISHERMEN have allegedly been using beef to catch mako sharks off the NSW north coast, inadvertently drawing great whites closer to shore.
The Daily Telegraph understands some thrillseekers have also been line-fishing for great whites to illegally kill them, while others have used burley to attract and video them.
Great whites are protected and those found to have caught them face fines of more than $15,000. Recreational fishers, however, can catch one mako shark per day.
The baiting claims come as Matt Lee, 32, and Craig Ison, 51, remain in hospital after horrific shark attacks last month.
A Ballina fisherman, who wished to remained anonymous, said until two months ago he was using burley to fish for great whites in a bid to reduce attacks in the area.
He said he stopped after he received threats of being “dobbed in” to the Department of Primary Industries, but called for the culling of sharks to be legalised.
“I know a few others who have taken it upon themselves to try and find a permanent solution to the attacks,” the fisherman said.
Mr Ison, 51, told the Telegraph he was devastated that people had been beef baiting.
Southern Cross University shark expert Danny Bucher said it was a “worry” that people were throwing out bait.
“If you’re going to throw out bait, sharks might start associating people with a free feed,” Dr Bucher said.
“If they’re throwing out burley and filming them when they come close, it could create a learned behaviour.”
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