Video Information


Below: On November 23, 2013, ITN ran a news report on a fatal shark attack just off Gracetown, 167 miles south of Perth. It was this attack which helped to prompt the new shark management strategies being adopted in Western Australia.




Below: On January 2, 2014, Channel 9 Perth ran a report on the protest planned for Saturday, January 4. The report includes the views of some of those opposed to the shark cull.




Below: On July 15, 2012, Sunrise On 7, interviewed Michael Brown from Surf Watch Australia as to whether sharks should be culled. Brown also gives his views on the effectiveness of the shark nets used in New South Wales.




Below: On October 23, 2013, Rebekah Boss, a student at the University of Western Sydney, and part of its Bringing Sustainability to Life project, posted a 7 minute video titled ‘Sharks: to cull or to not cull?
The presentation opposes culling; however, it also gives a great deal of interesting information on factors influencing public opinion on the issue.




Below: On April 1, 2012, Channel 9 ran a report on the death through shark attack of a 33-year-old father of two. The report includes a tribute to the man killed and discussion of a number of means of reducing the shark risk.




Below: On June 25, 2012, Christopher Neff, a third year PhD candidate in Government and International Relations at the University of Sydney, gave a public presentation challenging the idea that there are ‘rogue sharks’.




Below: The first shark attack in ‘Jaws’. This 1975 film had a significant impact on popular attitudes to sharks.






Web links, documents


A note on shark attack statistics
Shark attack statistics need to be handled with care. Some sites list all possible attacks, including, for example, deaths which may have resulted from drowning and the corpse was subsequently mauled by a shark. Other sites include only what are referred to as 'unprovoked attacks'. On these sites, surfers and swimmers attacked by sharks are regarded as 'unprovoked attacks'; fishermen and deep sea-divers and others who have actively made contact with one or more sharks and are then attacked are sometimes regarded as being the victims of 'provoked' attacks. Some sites also exclude incidents where there have been no injuries sustained. Further, Queensland and New South Wales respective claims to only one shark-related fatality since the imposition of their shark protection measures refer only to those beaches where these measures are employed. They also do not tend to refer to the non-fatal attacks which have occurred on protected beaches.

The Shark Survivors Internet site maintains a comprehensive listing of shark attacks world-wide, including those of less severity. It includes deaths which are suspected to be shark-related and where possible includes both 'provoked' and 'unprovoked' attacks. The site's numbers are thus higher than those found on other sites. It also includes listings of historical attacks. At the time of publication of this issue outline the Shark Survivors Internet site was current to December 5, 2013.
The file can be accessed at http://sharkattackfile.info/shark-attack-queries-general/complete-shark-attack-file.asp

The Taronga Conservation Society Australia gives shark-attack statistics for Australia only. It tallies attacks and gives totals for fatalities, injuries and attacks that did not result in injury. This state-by-state detail is supplied only for 'unprovoked' attacks. It includes attacks back to 1791 and gives tallies by State sub-totals. It gives the year date and location of only the most recent fatality in each State. The site gives an Australia-wide total for 'provoked' attacks and again lists fatalities, injuries and attacks that did not result in injury.
This data can be accessed at http://taronga.org.au/animals-conservation/conservation-science/australian-shark-attack-file/latest-figures

The Taronga Conservation Society Australia also gives state-by-state data for just the preceding year (currently 2012). This can be accessed at http://taronga.org.au/animals-conservation/conservation-science/australian-shark-attack-file/annual-australian-shark-attack-report-summary-2012

The Florida Museum of Natural History maintains an International Shark Attack File. The site includes an enormous amount of data. It gives data sub-divided according to the area of the world where the attack occurred. It looks in particular at White Shark attacks and gives data indicating time of day, age of victim, sex of victim and victim's race. Some of this data is presented in graphs. It should be noted that not all this data is fully contemporary. The most recent shark attack listed for Western Australia, for example, is said to have occurred in 2012. The total number of fatalities listed for that State is 14, compared to the 20 currently claimed over the last hundred years by the State's premier. Such discrepancies underline the different classification principles different groups apply when making their tallies.
The International Shark Attack File can be accessed at http:http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/sharks/statistics/statistics.htm

On December 27, 2013, the Western Australian premier, Colin Barnett, and the Fisheries Minister, Ken Baston, issued a joint press release titled 'Improving shark safety at popular WA beaches'. The media release details many of the provisions of the new shark management practices. The full release can be accessed at http:http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/pages/StatementDetails.aspx?listName=StatementsBarnett&StatId=8039

On December 27, 2013, WAtoday.com.au published a report titled, 'Premier Colin Barnett defends shark killing as WA bait line locations revealed'. The report includes numerous quotations from Premier Barnett, defending his government's new strategies.
The full text of the report can be found at http:http://www.smh.com.au/wa-news/premier-colin-barnett-defends-shark-killing-as-wa-bait-line-locations-revealed-20131227-2zyvf.html

On December 27, 2013, news.com.au published a report titled 'WA govt's shark kill plan proceeds' giving details of the areas to be protected under the State's new shark management scheme. The full text of this article can be found at http:http://www.news.com.au/national/breaking-news/wa-govts-shark-kill-plan-proceeds/story-e6frfku9-1226790667872

On December 24, 2013, WAtoday.com published a report titled 'How WA's shark 'kill zones' will work'. The report gives details of how Western Australia's 'shark mitigation policy' is intended to work.
The full text can be accessed at http:http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/how-was-shark-kill-zones-will-work-20131224-2zvmn.html

On December 22, 2013, an ABC News Fact Check was published. The fact check examines the question 'Can governments protect people from killer sharks?' The piece is a very effective interrogation of a number of related issues. It suggests both that culling processes can reduce human risk. However, it also indicates that there are likely to be significant environmental impacts.
The full text of this fact check can be accessed at http:http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-12-22/can-governments-protect-people-from-killer-sharks/5158880

On December 16, 2013, ABC News published a report titled 'Experts criticise shark baiting saying it will increase risks for swimmers, surfers and divers'. The report collects the views of a number of marine experts that drum-lines may increase the risk of shark attack.
The full text of this report can be accessed at http:http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-12-11/baiting-for-sharks-will-lead-them-into-swimming-areas/5150582

On December 12, 2013, The Conversation published a comment by Carl Meyer titled 'Western Australia's shark culls lack bite (and science)' Carl Meyer is an assistant researcher at the University of Hawaii. The full text of this article can be accessed at https://theconversation.com/western-australias-shark-culls-lack-bite-and-science-21371

On December 12, 2013, Perth Now published a report titled 'Baited drum lines to catch sharks 'create more dangerous situation' says PhD student'. The report considers the claims of one expert that baited drum-lines may attract sharks.
The full text of this report can be accessed at http:http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/western-australia/baited-drum-lines-to-catch-sharks-create-more-dangerous-situation-says-phd-student/story-fnhocxo3-1226780883945

On December 10, 2013, WAtoday.com.au published a report titled, 'WA government unveils shark "kill zones"'. In addition to giving early details of the new scheme is quotes a range of opinions from those supporting and opposing it.
The full text of this report can be found at http:http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/wa-government-unveils-shark-kill-zones-20131210-2z3m0.html#ixzz2oMJOE4RU

On December 10, 2013, WAtoday.com.au published a report titled, 'WA shark policy a 'cull by another name'. The report is largely a collection of expert opinion opposed to the new Western Australian shark management scheme.
The full text of the report can be found at http:http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/wa-shark-policy-a-cull-by-another-name-20131210-2z48d.html

On November 28, 2013, The Western Australian published a report titled 'Get sharks off protected list: Buswell'. The report details the demand from Western Australian Fisheries Minister Troy Buswell that sharks be removed from the Federal protected species list.
The full text of this report can be accessed at http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/20048646/get-sharks-off-protected-list-buswell/

On November 25, 2013, the ABC News ran a report titled, 'Shark cull debate reignited after fatal attack in WA'. The report details reactions to the recent death of a surfer taken by a shark in waters off Gracetown. It gives extensive comments from those proposing a shark cull and those opposed to such measures.
The full text of the report can be accessed at http:http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-25/shark-cull-debate-reignited-after-fatal-attack-in/5115208?section=wa

In 2013 a Canadian study of the global exploitation of sharks (funded by grants from the [Canadian] National Science Foundation and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada) provided detailed world-wide data on the number of sharks being fished annually. This provides a graphic factual context for claims that many shark species are facing extinction.
This is a detailed document; however it has an initial abstract which summarises many of its findings. The report can be accessed at http://wormlab.biology.dal.ca/pressmaterial/catches_exploitation/content/Worm_etal_EMBARGOED.pdf

Western Australians for Shark Conservation is a W.A, Perth based conservation group dedicated to the preservation of sharks in Western Australian waters. It is particularly opposed to the State's recently announced 'Shark Mitigation Policy'. The site includes comment from a range of experts and politicians supporting its position.
The site cane e accessed at http:http://www.wascgroup.com/

Shark Angels is an international lobby group that uses education and advocacy programs to protect sharks, the ocean's apex species. They have an Australian chapter.
Their Internet site aggregates media treatments that support their point of view. It currently features an opinion piece arguing against the Western Australian cull. It can be accessed at http://sharkangels.org/index.php/media/news/218-shark-cull-really

The Western Australian Department of Fisheries has a public information site in shark safety. This site can be accessed at http:http://www.fish.wa.gov.au/Education-and-Partnerships/Shark-Hazard/Shark%20safety/Pages/Shark-safety-FAQ.aspx/

On October 28, 2013, the ABC's Environment site published a comment by Alexia Wellbelove. Wellbelove is a zoologist with the Humane Society International, a conservation and animal welfare organisation. The comment is titled 'We need to remove shark nets now' and refers to recent incidents of whales and other species being caught in shark nets.
The full text of this article can be found at http:http://www.abc.net.au/environment/articles/2013/10/29/3879318.htm

On April 17, 2013, Australian Geographic published an analysis titled 'Fatal shore: Why so many shark attacks?' The article looks at the atypical number of shark attacks that have occurred in Western Australian waters and suggests a number of factors which may have influenced this. It calls for further research.
The full text of this article can be accessed at http:http://www.australiangeographic.com.au/topics/history-culture/2013/04/fatal-shore-why-so-many-shark-attacks-/

On January 11, 2013, The Conversation published a comment by Christopher Neff, third-year doctoral candidate at the University of Sydney, School of Arts and Social Sciences and Department of Government and International Relations. His PhD research topic focuses on the 'politics of shark attacks.' The comment is titled 'Shark bite prevention should be led by evidence, not politics'. Christopher Neff argues that there are other more effective means of reducing the risk of shark attack than pre-emptive shark hunts.
The full text of this comment can be accessed at http://theconversation.com/shark-bite-prevention-should-be-led-by-evidence-not-politics-11542

On October 22, 2012, The Conversation published a comment by Christopher Neff, third-year doctoral candidate at the University of Sydney, School of Arts and Social Sciences and Department of Government and International Relations. His PhD research topic focuses on the 'politics of shark attacks.' The comment is titled, 'The great shark debate: to cull or not to cull?' Neff argues that there are more effective and ecologically responsible means of responding to shark attacks than via culls.
The full text of this comment can be found at http://theconversation.com/the-great-shark-debate-to-cull-or-not-to-cull-9550

On September 12, 2013, The Guardian published a report titled 'Plan to kill great white sharks that swim too close to Australian beaches'. The report gives background to the issue and highlights some of the earlier statements of premier Barnett that show a readiness to cull sharks.
The full text of this report can be found at http:http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2012/sep/28/great-white-sharks-killed-australia

On July 16, 2012, The International Business Times published a report by Mark Johanson titled 'Shark Attacks In Western Australia Killing Tourism'. The report looks at the effect of a series of shark attacks and fatalities on Western Australian tourism. The full text of this report can be accessed at http:http://www.ibtimes.com/shark-attacks-western-australia-killing-tourism-723573

On July 15, 2012, The Conversation published a comment by Christopher Neff titled 'How government can help us avoid shark "attacks"' The comment focuses on the importance of a change in public attitudes and on better public education about shark safety.
The full text of this article can be accessed at http://theconversation.com/how-government-can-help-us-avoid-shark-attacks-8255

On August 2, 2010, News Discovery carried a comment and analysis by Michael Reilly which suggests that popular reactions to shark attacks are extreme and that sharks represent less of a threat to human life than is often supposed. Reilly draws substantially on data taken from the University of Florida's International Shark Attack File.
The piece is titled 'Shark Attacks: What Are the Odds?' and can be accessed at http://news.discovery.com/animals/sharks/shark-attacks-what-are-the-odds-20100802.htm