Key facts
- Shark behaviour expert Rob Harcourt stated Tony Abbott "doesn’t understand the science" regarding shark attacks.
- Abbott called for shark culls and the establishment of a fishery following a recent shark bite incident in Sydney.
- Experts argue shark culls are ineffective, ecologically damaging, and a "knee-jerk reaction" not based on evidence.
- New South Wales Premier Chris Minns ruled out a cull, citing the protected status of great white sharks and lack of evidence for effectiveness.
- Alternative shark mitigation strategies like drone surveillance and coexistence with nature were proposed.
A shark behaviour expert has criticized former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott's call for shark culls following a recent attack at a Sydney beach, stating that Abbott "doesn’t understand the science." The incident involved a woman in her 30s being bitten by what is believed to be a great white shark.
Emeritus Professor Rob Harcourt from Macquarie University argued that a cull would not significantly reduce the risk of shark attacks and would be an ecological catastrophe. He described Abbott's stance as lacking understanding of risk, climate change, and scientific evidence, calling it a "knee-jerk reaction."
Professor Culum Brown, also from Macquarie University, characterized calls for a cull as a "naive way of scoring political points" and advocated for coexistence with nature rather than an "18th century approach to annihilating nature."
New South Wales Premier Chris Minns stated that great white sharks are a protected species and ruled out a cull, expressing doubt about its effectiveness and noting the sharks' migratory nature. He suggested a review of the state's shark protection measures, including shark netting and the adoption of new technologies like drones.
Dr. Daryl McPhee from Bond University highlighted an increase in shark bites in New South Wales, attributing it partly to population growth and an increase in whale populations, which attract more great white sharks. He suggested that drone surveillance could have prevented the recent bite.
Marine biologist Lawrence Chlebeck added that culls are impractical due to sharks' migratory patterns and that using bait to attract sharks for culling could actually increase the risk of attacks. He also noted that since 2012, New South Wales' shark nets have resulted in the deaths of numerous sharks, including 174 great white sharks.