Australia Beach: VIC has state´s safest beaches

Australia Beach: VIC has state´s safest beaches

Although sharks can be spotted from VIC beaches attacks are most unlikely
By: Oliver Koester
January 25, 2006
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AT LEAST seven sharks were sighted along Victorias beautiful coastline since last November, but for all that it has the safest beaches for swimming in Austalia.

The Australian Shark Attack Register provides information, that alarming seven fatal shark attacks have taken place along the Australian coastline waters in 2004, which outnumbers the long-term average of 1.2 shark deaths a year. Marine Scientists confirmed that there is no cause for alarm as similar numbers of attacks were recorded in previous years.

"It may not necessarily reflect the number of sharks or the movement of sharks, it may reflect more the fact that we had a warmer summer and there's a lot of people visiting the beach," reported an aquarist at Melbourne Aquarium. "From my point of view, although our population has increased, shark attacks have remained fairly steady over the past 50 to 60 years, which suggests a drop in the population of sharks."

This statement is backed up by Fisheries Department research scientist Rory McAuley, who said there is no proof the rate of shark attacks in WA is increasing. He is convicted, that the fact that people nowadays had greater access to boats than in the past and were spending more time in deeper water contributed to several shark attacks in recent years, including those on Brad Smith, 29, at Gracetown in 2004 and Geoffrey Brazier, 26, at the Abrolhos Islands, west of Geraldton, last year.

According to Hugh Edwards, author and shark expert, the number of great white sharks is increasing. He believes more shark attacks are the consequences of more people attending Australia´s beaches. "It is difficult to know whether there are more sharks or more people in the water where the sharks can get to them," Mr Edwards said.

There are no bull or tiger sharks in Victorian waters, said Mr Donnelly. "I don't believe sharks are a problem anywhere in Victoria," he said. "I know for a fact that more people are bitten by seals rather than sharks in Victoria.

To avoid shark attacks you should not swim in murky or turbulent water, or at dawn or dusk. Moreover it is higly recommended to avoid swimming with dogs, as their splashing could attract sharks.


Resource: The Age - January 18, 2006