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I thought a great starting point, for a subject that is scary to most of us surfers, would be a humorous shark-inspired piece. Hence the below clip (forwarded to me from another reader: Michael):
(By the way, there is a language warning on this clip):
Source: YouTube
How funny is that call?! 'Angel from Hell!' Comic gold.
Kris' motivation for his suggestion was the late 2013 shark attack in Australia's Coffs Harbour.
Details of the event can be accessed through the link below:
Link to Coffs Harbour shark attack story
Coffs Harbour satellite photo
View Larger Map
Source: Google Maps
I was originally enthused to do a respect piece on sharks but, now that I'm here, I don't really know where to start. I know that, while petrified, I've got no personal beef with these creatures. I honestly believe they have as much right to the ocean as we do - if not more. And I comfortably acknowledge I am entering their realm every time I go for a squirt.
Following this Coffs Harbour attack, although probably not a linked event, the Western Australian Government introduced measures to reduce the number of potentially dangerous sharks on Western Australian beaches. They wouldn't call it a 'cull', even though the measures included the killing of sharks.
The link below further explores that government's approach:
Link to article on the effects of shark culling
I'd have to say that the Western Australian Government's actions aren't ones I endorse. Looking on line, it seems apparent that much of the public doesn't support this action either.
From my experience, many people of different creeds seem to appreciate the role sharks play in marine habitats. They also seem to believe that sharks aren't specifically looking to eat human beings. Many of us believe that whenever there is an attack on a human, it's more an action of inquisitiveness than anything else.
That being said, I've attached an interesting link to statistics on shark attacks on humans:
Link to shark attack statistics
Well, in today's post I have attempted to touch the surface of the shark issue I'm sure many of us surfers often reflect on. I'm not sure if I've done enough, or acted responsibly enough in today's post dedicated to these impressive creatures...
On that note, I thought I'd (almost) finish this post with the below illustration: I sincerely hope this doesn't happen to you in your next surf...
However, if discussing sharks isn't exactly your thing, and you just want to dream about getting pitted, then I'm posting the below photo to ensure you don't feel un-catered for...
I like it how you used your signature catch phrase "endorsed" Willy.. However, personally I think killing a few in WA isn't unreasonable given how many attacks there have been. Only licensed people can kill them, they have to be within certain areas and they have to be 3m or larger. How many people have died in the last 10 years over there? Clearly numbers of whites are out of control. Constantly thinking about great whites can really take the fun out of surfing, and most places that have large white populations seem to have pumping waves... time to do something!
ReplyDeleteWhile I strongly disagree, I appreciate you sharing your thoughts with us.
DeleteI think of this this way: In our own justice system, we don't judge people as guilty for simply being in the vicinity of a crime, nor for being of a similar height to the alleged perpetrator. We require more proof than that. I feel sharks, at the very least, deserve that. Although I'd like to add that I don't feel they deserve to loose their own lives over it either.
I guess it largely depends on your perspective. I personally feel we humans are one part of this planet, and not that this planet is here for our disposal.
My thoughts only...
Yeah but that is the problem with the mindset of the pro shark crowd Willy. A shark's life ISN'T worth the same as a human life. If it was just a once off freak attack a shark cull would be out of line. But the number of white sharks is clearly out of control off the WA coastline. What is it, 10 deaths over past decade? How would you feel if it was someone you knew? I've witnessed these animals before and they are the ultimate stealth killing machines. They are only sharks of a certain size and within a certain distrance of beaches that are being culled - not like they are gonna be extinct anytime soon. Time to protect the ocean lovers of WA I think..
ReplyDeleteI'm not going to pretend I know how I'd feel about sharks if someone dear to me was taken by a one. All I can talk about is how I feel now: As a surfer who is scared of sharks and who thinks about them often, I still acknowledge that I'm entering their home whenever I go surfing. I can't see how anybody could reasonably suggest otherwise and say they are invading my/our space.
DeleteI'm also not sure how you can suggest the number of white sharks is 'clearly out of control'. Where are you getting these 'clear' figures from? I guess I'm showing my belief in the balance of nature by suggesting there are only enough sharks in existence that nature can support with regular sources of food (i.e. not humans) to survive.
If you look on line, you'll find many sites that talk about the vast distances sharks can travel over short periods of time. So, just because a shark is close to a beach today, doesn't mean it'll be close to one tomorrow. And vice versa. So killing the big ones that are spotted near certain beaches at one point in time is a pointless exercise that lacks reason from my perspective.
Despite agreeing with you that a human life is worth more than a shark's life, I don't think that's at all a strong enough reason to go killing these creatures en masse.
To be honest I always used to think the same as you Willy. SW WA is just nuts though - they seem to be concentrated in that area. They've clearly bred up since being protected, at the same time their food supply has been reduced by overfishing. I'd be shitting myself paddling out around Margs/Gracetown these days. I have to say I'm not to fussed about them in NSW, and wouldn't really want a cull here, but if I lived in Margs? Hell yeah I'd want a few of them killed!
DeleteHmmm. I think we'll have to agree to disagree on this one.
DeleteThank you for taking the time to write and share your opinions with us. Much appreciated.
As much as I don't like the thought of being taken by a shark, it is still an incredibly small risk when entering the water when you look at the numbers (even with the recent number of deaths in WA in the past few years).
ReplyDeletePlease read this article, I think the author makes a number of great points particularly regarding surfers relationship with the ocean:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-01-03/carmody-in-defence-of-the-great-white-shark/5183396
Thanks Neil - great article. Many new perspectives I hadn't heard or thought of before.
DeleteI once read somewhere that the ocean gets its saltiness from the tears of misunderstood sharks.
ReplyDeleteAs someone who does not surf I can't and shouldn't make assumptions or attempt to relate to any fear or emotion of losing a friend/relative on this topic. So my opinion is based on a couple of points from an outsiders perspective:
Economically: It is more efficient to be putting any money spent on shark killings into educating people about swimming safely or increasing the amount of patrolled beaches in an effort to reduce the 300+ deaths a year as a result of drownings compared to the 2 on average, Shark related fatalities each year.
Environmentally: It is wrong to think that Great White Shark populations are out-of-control. Many organizations consider Great White Sharks endangered, including the Australian government and the WWF. A Sharks role in the ecosystem is so important to the human life that we argue is greater than a sharks. Using that logic we should protect the species that helps give us life rather than kill it.
Sharks have enjoyed and worked with the planet for around for 450 million years without problem, who/what gives us the right to change that?
Dear Anonymous,
DeleteThank you for your more emotionally balanced comments (us surfers tend to get a bit heated on this topic - it's quite close to our hearts).
I guess it's no surprise I agree with you.
Sharks suffer from a reputation largely formed around 'that would be a terrible way to go'. But like you say, there are way more bigger killers out there - society would better benefit if economic resources were spent on preventing those.
I appreciate you sharing your thoughts.