Shark attack Ballina

I dont think nets are the solution , the by catch is pretty bad and anyway you cant net every beach. Interesting storey down south about a pod of killer whales killing a white and know all the other sharks have fled the area , leaving the shark diving operators with nothing to show. I think a lot more money should be put into electronic deterrents on a large scale. My belief is your in their domain you take the risk , simple as that.

So sad, our thoughts go out to his family, friends and loved ones.

Well said Piros.

This information is straight from the DPI website. http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/357438/nsw-shark-meshing-prgram.pdf The shark meshing (netting) program has been in operation in NSW since 1937 and has expanded over time, there are now nets in place from Stockton to South Wollongong and within this time there has only been one fatal attack at a netted beach which occurred at Merewether in 1951. Interestingly from 1900 to 1936 (before the nets were in place) there was an average of one fatal attack a year.

From this information I would have to say that the nets are working especially when you consider the increase in population, and from what I could find the nets catch (kill) between 69 to 158 sharks per year.

I'm no fisheries scientist, though I did start off working for fisheries research in NSW a long time ago and have been a shark nut for a long time. but first and foremost I'm into my surfing and sincere condolences to the poor mans family for their loss. It is tragic, and ona personal level it is the way I least want to go.

ive also had the dubious pleasure of reading the thread on the go about this on swell net, and there seems to be just one bloke on there speaking any sense about this as of last night who sounds like he has any background in it. The flap some people are in belies the highly emotional nature of the issue - nobody wants to meet this fate, and it freaks us all out, especially those of us who have seen a decent shark up close and personal.

i worked witht the shark researchers in charge of the netting in sydney in the early 90s, and I remember being rather chilled by the fact that a ridiculous proportion of them (over half at least) were caught on the beach side of the net. As I understand it, a key issue is the bycatch - all the critters that either get caught in the nets or get hooked on the drumlines which are not dangerous sharks. Plus the whales that get entangled. another reason, which is a bit ironic, is that these trapped/hooked critters in the nest and lines actually attract sharks from a much wider area. Sharks can sense low frequency vibrations (thrashing in the water, like a struggling animal) for something like up to 1.5km. They can detect blood from a long way. They can sense electrical signals in the water and tell if you are alive or dead. Or freaking out that they are next to you.

im of the view that f there was good science behind increased protective measures the government/s would have done it, as human life will trump animal welfare or environmental protection every time. If there was proof that it works, it would happen. I have not heard of any proper scientific work ( and there has been quite a bit invested in it over the years) that shows it has a measurable effect. It seems to be done so that the pollies can tell the people they are doing everything they can, all the while knowing it might reduce the chance of an attack by a bees dick if at all.

On the other side, I have heard the are a lot more sharks around in the last year or three. My mates up the east coast report heaps of sightings and the headlines speak for themselves. We can't ignore anecdotal evidence, but we can't use it to put in place an effective control r protection measure either. I think all surfers should get onto their local members about it to get some serious funding for shark research so that we have half an idea of what is happening. Until then, we need to acknowledge that we are tempting fate every time we paddle out.

I disagree. It works in Queensland. Queensland politicians value the lives of people at our beaches. While you guys down South consult your scientists, prepare your scientific research reports and lobby your governments, people are unnecessarily going to be attacked by large sharks while this dithering goes on. It might take three or more fatal shark attacks before something gets done. Hopefully they will follow the lead of a State who got it right.

If a 4 metre plus whitey comes too close to the shore where beachgoers are , and stays around - blow it away , simple ... we do it with crocodiles so what's the difference ???

Just got in from the surf,stormy,grey, sharky as ****, but what do you do not surf no thanks.As surfers we take risks every time we enter the ocean,sharks are one big scary risk but it's our choice to be out there.
Not sure what the answer is to stop attacks but any human interference in the marine ecosystem should be carefully researched and planned out,not just an emotion driven slaughter of an apex predator essential to the health of the ocean we all love . Hopefully this thread can be a positive one on how we as surfers can get together use our collective ocean experience and voting power to put pressure on the powers that be,to find a solution through sound scientific research where nature and surfers can both benifit.
I dedicated my first set wave to our lost surfing brother RIP fella.

Lets get some facts straight no deaths on beaches protected by nets & drum lines by since 1962 on the Gold Coast and 1937 in Sydney. How many sharks caught in the nets or drums on the Gold Coast in 2014 ? 500 , 400 , 200 no only 56 with just 4 whites. By catch just one turtle died. So lets get this slaughter out of the argument. Why do the nets & drum lines work over time they take out the resident predator just like the crocs that hang at boat ramps looking for an easy feed. Do drum lines attract other sharks ? yes they do and on one hook was a 3 foot shark eaten by a 6 foot shark then by an 8 foot shark thats why the nets and drums are set out wide. Greenmount is the closets at 500m all the rest are 700m all very far from shore. So no they don't bring sharks in close. The whites and other sharks have learnt to stay out wide and follow the whale migration.

Sharks learn very fast like the whales to avoid these areas , in the 60's the whales would head out to sea at Double Island Point to avoid the whalers from Tangalooma. Thats why whaling shut down in 1962 at Tangalooma they only caught 60 of their 600 quoter. In 1982 Whites were protected and it's taken a while but their numbers are way up and with that comes the monster resident. The nets and drums can only deal with sharks up to 4.5m above that they break free , without some control or protection you will get a monster predator just hanging at your local break snacking on your's or your mates legs.

Why do the sharks come in closer at Northern NSW because the reef line does that's why the Greenmount nets are closer. Nets & drums work you don't have to be a marine biologists to work it out they target the dominate resident same as crocs up North but if you are happy to loose one of your mates or kids and simply say "Hey we are in their domain" so be it , Peace to you brother.

My thoughts go out to the family. What a horrible thing to happen. My local is the most northern surf beach on the east coast. Not huge normally, but still a lot of fun. We've had some significant rain events just recently, and coupled with a strong cross shore wind, makes for some murky water. There is no way in hell the local council, state or federal governments will spend money to net our beach. We all know we're dreaming. As a SUPper I know I can see more than most and alert the clubby when I spot a shark or sharks. It's difficult when you're trying to encourage your kids in the surf. Plenty around at the moment, mainly bullys. If I had the choice there would be none. After spending the last 15 years or so in the islands and the northern
territory I would rather be in close quarters with a shark than a salt water crocodile anyday......

I love Science but sound science can take a long time and is often selected for grants by our politicians. An example of .. Japanese Whaling scientists and the continued debate over global warming after it was raised in the 1960's. I am a fan of history instead. When there is a critical mass of apex predators in your local area , we, and our children, unfortunately start becoming part of the food chain again. It happened up in Cairns with the Crocodiles.
Scientists can say anything if they are paid enough... For example ...cigarettes. Wouldn't you start with an effective system with limited by catch that is happening up here at present and then tweak it slowly with science to achieve the best of both worlds? I'm sure there are a lot of scientists that will be putting up their hand for a six month research contract on this issue. They should be researching what is happening in Qld where there is an effective system in place that is backed up by statistics..

Roll out the drum lines and nets. Trial them for a couple of years and see if the attacks reduce.
What have we got to lose-money? I'm more than happy to contribute my tax dollars for a trial, especially if it prevents Mondays events happening again. Even if it stops one or two losses of human life they will have paid for themselves 10 fold.
Shocking way to go, his poor family. RIP mate.

I just saw this headline and are pasting it here on the fly. I haven't had time to read it yet but the headline caught my eye.

App: Check Your Phone For Sharks Before Paddling Out

www.theinertia.com/surf/check-your-phone-for-sharks-before-paddling-out/

That was really good and what a great speaker definitely has some merit ,but you need to wear a steamer not so good . The board pattern I really like and if sharks see in grey scale JP may have fluked it. When I do another custom I'll definitely go the black and white stripes and maybe the major manufacturers could look at it as well or maybe just wear a pair of Collingwood footy socks

Queensland has had a reduced number of attacks after the program has been setup. This has occurred due to an effective program that stretches way up the fnq coast on the 2nd biggest coastline of all the states. There are attacks now and then but nothing like the number in other states with an ineffective program. Up in Cairns tourists stopped visiting certain beaches and areas through fear and the locals started to take matters into their own hands after being scared too many times. This hastened the response from council who was inundated in the letters to the editor every week enquiring why they were just putting up croc signs everywhere. Your councils need to be more proactive in fixing this problem as it will bring unnecessary tragedy into your local beachgoing community and tourist revenue will drop.