Ban on killing sharks raises attack risk

[templetonstoy]

Lauren Wilson, Debbie Guest | December 31, 2008
Article from: The Australian

THE number of man-eating sharks in Australian waters is growing, according to experts, who blame the surging numbers on a ban on killing the predators.

Marine biologist Adam Smith said initial research and accounts from fishermen and divers pointed to a rise in the number of sharks in Australian waters.

Dr Smith, who has created the Great Australian Shark Count to obtain firm data on numbers, said great white sharks were no longer allowed to be hunted and fishermen faced fines of about $20,000 and a possible jail sentence for breaking the law.

"They were once targeted as trophy fish by game fishermen, or caught by commercial fishermen because they were a nuisance," he said.

Dr Smith said globally shark numbers were under threat, but Australian law protected them.

Shark researcher Terry Peake, who established the Shark Research Institute of Australia, agreed that the ban on killing great whites had helped their numbers. "Nobody is fishing for the great white, it has no human predators and commercial fisherman are telling us they're seeing an increase in numbers," he said.

Mr Peake also warned that increasing contact between great whites and humans could occur as many of the shark's traditional food sources, including salmon species, were more aggressively fished. "For every one shark attack, there are reports of 20-50 close calls," he said.

The news came as a Western Australian couple reported a close encounter with a 5m shark in the same waters where a 51-year-old man was killed in a shark attack four days ago.

Paul Vickery and his wife were in their aluminium 4.5m dingy fishing for crabs and squid when a white pointer, at least the same size as their boat, swam up.

"The shark came to us and splashed around a bit and came and had a look at us," Mr Vickery told ABC radio.

He said the boat "tipped a bit", but did not take on water. "It looked so beautiful in the water, so majestic," he said.

The incident has led to calls by a West Australian government minister for the shark involved to be killed. Western Australia Police Minister Rob Johnson said if the same shark was responsible for the two incidents, it should be destroyed.

"I believe in the preservation of human life over and above a rogue shark," he said.

"If they have to destroy the shark, I would suggest that's what needs to happen."