Expert Deems Calls for Shark Cull After Recent Attacks as ‘Misinformed

Marine advocates remain steadfast in their opposition to shark culling, asserting that there is no scientific backing for its effectiveness.

According to marine scientist Vanessa Pirotta, enhancing water safety practices is a more effective strategy for preventing shark attacks.

“As a marine scientist, I do not endorse culling,” Pirotta shared with Today.

“I advocate for investing in scientific research, enabling Australians to make well-informed decisions.”

Typically, culling involves the use of baited drumlines or nets.

Shark nets are installed at some beaches in NSW and Queensland.

Pirotta called for calm and advised against a knee-jerk reaction, and said the dangerous cocktail of bad weather and summertime swimming is the key reason for the spike in shark attacks.

She also rejected the suggestion that bull sharks – thought to be responsible for some of the incidents – are aggressive.

“We need more education around this,” she said.

“We’ve known for years, through research done by NSW Department of Primary Industries, that bull sharks are present in Sydney Harbour at this time of year.

“That to me as a scientist is not shocking, but we need to all be aware of this so that we can be more informed to make good decisions.”

Other advocates have suggested non-lethal measures to protect swimmers from sharks on Australian beaches.

The technology, which is attached to the seabed, uses magnets to interfere with the receptors on a shark’s head.

”It creates an overwhelming sense for them, so they just don’t go through it,” Laurenson said.

“It’s like sort of tear gas for sharks. It doesn’t hurt them, it’s just uncomfortable.”

The magnets have been used in trials in South Africa, the Bahamas and on Reunion Island in the Indian Ocean.

“It’s a terrible situation, but it’s also a time where we just need to just stop and take a breather to digest the information,” Pirotta said.

“We all need to be informed, to think about this in the most appropriate way, and think about the word culling.

“That’s just probably, in my opinion, a misinformed comment.”

The ocean expert said better messaging around shark safety could help lower the rate of attacks.

“You’re probably going to check the UV index before going to the beach. You’ll check you go between the flags,” Pirotta added.

“Perhaps we need to have some sort of environmental communication around [sharks] going forward.”