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.
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 because experts say the area isn't particularly suitable for them. But locals want something done quickly.
An emergency meeting was called and 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.
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.
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.
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