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July 11, 2004
09:15:53
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It’s the bees you should be watching out for apparently
Photo from maneatingsharks.com (although I have tried in vain to find the original photographer of this photo - there was no copyright information on the image)
Tragically a young man died from being attacked by a White pointer shark yesterday, while he was surfing off the West Australian coast (story - news.com.au). His family have requested that the shark responsible not be hunted down and killed - yet you can imagine already that the boats full of determined fishermen have been out in full since yesterday.
It always amazes me how this happens. As soon as a creature attacks a human it is suddenly a “man-eater” and must be disposed of. Does a chance encounter mean that the sharks will move into a surfing area if one of them discovers there are easy pickings there?
Growing up near the beach in South Australia means that you develop an interest in sharks. You soon learn to get your bum out of the water if the airplane that flies over the beaches in summertime sounds the alarm. It was part of the summer experience - sunburn, sand in your bathers and the thrill of racing out of the water when the shark alarm sounded (oh and humming the Jaws theme to your little brother when you were in the water). However no matter how many times I went to the beach or watched keenly from one of the jetties I have never actually seen a shark. More dolphins and whales than you could poke a stick at - but no “killers of the deep” lurking away. Probably because I don’t go swimming with bits of fish carcasses attached to me. Or swim out very far from shore.
The problem with sharks is that they are just not cute. Bet that pic at the top of this post sent a shiver down your spine hey? They provoke fear in us because we can’t tame them or reason with them. And those bloody pointy teeth don’t help either.
Google around a bit though and you can find heaps of interesting things out about them…
The Taronga and Western Plains Zoos maintains the Australian Shark attack file:
As of February 2003, for all Australian States combined:
In the last 20 years, 24 RECORDED FATALITIES due to shark attack, averages 1.2 per year. (QLD = 9, SA = 9, NSW = 1, TAS = 1, VIC = 0, WA = 4, NT = none)
Compared to fatalities from any other form of water related activity the number of fatal shark attacks, from all reported shark encounters in Australia, is extremely low.
During the period 1968-91, in NSW alone, 121 rock fishermen were swept off the rocks and drowned and 37 surfboard riders drowned. In that same period 32 shark encounters were recorded with only 1 fatality reported.
Diving related deaths in Australia 1945 - 1987 = 292 (quote from Diving Accident Management in Australia, 1988).
Next entry: My Stepmother writes about my Dad for the paper
Previous entry: Tanabata - the gaudiest festival in Kanagawa
Added spice....
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Werent you writing recently about how delicious sharks are? Didnt you buy some flake at a supermarket and cook it up at home and introduce it to the Boy as a new taste sensation?
24 fatalities in the last 20 years tho, im surprised… I really thought it would be more. But compare that to the number of chip shops serving flake in our city alone…
(Love that pic up the top tho!)
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Yes Flake is shark, just, but the White pointer that was the primary attacker of that surfer is inedible ( I Have tried it, Amonia is not for me.
Although the area he was attacked is well known for monster White pointers the surf is soooooo good the Wax heads have gotta surf the waves. The beach is closed still but the board riders are back riding the waves around the shark hunters! Not for this little black duck!!! -
It takes a certain kind of nerve to sit on a plank of wood in deep water, dangling your feet over the edge, knowing what is swimming beneath you…. not for this duckie either!