Some Things Just Don’t Make Sense

Australia has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. They are a key part of Australian culture. They offer relaxation, sports, fun, and excitement. They have one big flaw – sharks!

Recently, there has been a spate of shark attacks in Western Australia (WA). A 39-year-old father died after a fatal bite to his leg while spearfishing. The next month, a 39-year-old man was fatally bitten while spearfishing off the WA coast.

It is not just WA; a spear fisherman in Far North Queensland sadly died from a fatal attack. Most recently, a 35-year-old mother was killed while swimming in waist-high water in New South Wales.

These recent fatal attacks have sparked the debate again concerning shark culling.

Five fatal attacks in two months are rare. In 2025, the number of unprovoked shark attacks globally was 65. The USA had the most attacks, with 26. Australia followed with 21. However, Australia has the highest ratio of fatal attacks, with 5 out of 9 being deadly.

The distinction between provoked and unprovoked attacks is important.

"Unprovoked attacks" happen when a shark bites a person in its natural habitat with no human provocation.

“Provoked attacks" occur when a human initiates interaction with a shark. These include cases where divers get bitten for bothering or trying to touch sharks. Bites can also occur to spearfishermen, those feeding sharks, or when unhooking a shark from a net.

In four of the five recent cases in Australia, victims were spearfishing. I feel the tragedy and grief these attacks caused for families. However, they were spearfishing.

What stimulates sharks to attack?

Sharks react to signals that hint at prey - irregular low-frequency vibrations, strong smells, like fish blood, and weak electric fields

• A shark's inner ear is incredibly sensitive to sounds.
• Sharks sense turbulence and changes in water pressure from 100 meters away. They use a network of fluid-filled canals along their bodies, known as the lateral line.
• Up to two-thirds of a shark's brain is dedicated to processing scents. They can detect fish oils, amino acids, and blood even in tiny amounts, such as one part per million. Often, they find these scents from more than a kilometre away.
• Sharks have excellent eyesight, especially in low-light conditions. Their eyes have a reflective layer behind the retina called the tapetum lucidum. This lets them see in almost total darkness.
• Sharks can see colours and react strongly to high-contrast objects. Bright yellow, silver, or white things in the water catch their attention.

Together, these give sharks amazing senses for hunting prey.

When someone spearfishes and catches a fish, it creates noise, releases blood scents, and causes movement. This activity sparks a shark's natural instincts. These instincts have helped sharks survive for years.

Shark attack fatalities are very rare. On average, fewer than 10 to 15 people die from them worldwide each year. Your lifetime odds of dying from a shark attack are roughly 1 in 4.3 million.

In Australia, there have been 183 more deaths from horses than from sharks. More than twice as many are from dogs. Even bees, snakes, and crocodiles cause more deaths than sharks.

More people have died from dangerous TikTok challenges this year than from shark attacks.

Humans kill an estimated 100 million sharks every year. Who gives us the right to kill sharks? We knowingly enter their territory. Sometimes, they get confused or act on instinct.

Marine ecologists and reviews say that culling doesn't reduce the risk of a shark attack. Experts suggest personal deterrents and drone monitoring. They also advise against swimming at dawn, dusk, or in murky, river-fed waters.

Traditional mesh nets catch and kill many non-target marine animals. This includes whales, dolphins, dugongs, and protected rays. These harm marine life even more. They also prove to be mostly ineffective.

Shark culling in Australia is the practice of catching and killing large sharks. This aims to reduce human interactions. However, it remains very controversial. New South Wales and Queensland continue lethal "shark control" programs. Marine experts say culling doesn't work. They believe modern, non-lethal strategies are safer for humans and marine ecosystems.

As a final note, sharks are extremely migratory. They can cover between 30 and 125 kilometres in a day. Highly migratory species, like the great white shark, are the most feared. They can travel over 80 kilometres.

The chance that a shark that has fatally injured a human is still present during culling is very low. It would definitely be a case of “wrong place, wrong time.”

This is another example of how man has assumed that the world is his to do with as he pleases. Trees get in the way of progress – cut them down. We need wood. We cut down forests without thinking of the many animals that rely on them for survival.

Sharks are causing problems on “our beaches” – kill them. Really?

Till next time,

Calvin