Shark fisherman warns rising catches could make Australian swimming unsafe within a decade
Shark fisherman Joel Nancarrow has warned that Australians may be unable to swim safely in the ocean within a decade, arguing that shark numbers and sizes are increasing. His prediction follows four attacks reported along the NSW coast within 48 hours in January, including the fatal attack on 12-year-old Nico Antic.
Nancarrow says he caught 34 sharks this year, compared with 14 last year, and that their average weight has risen from about 130kg to 250kg over a decade. He is calling for expanded commercial fishing, but Bond University expert Dr Daryl McPhee says there is no evidence to support the forecast and describes NSW and Queensland’s shark-bite prevention measures as world-leading. NSW has 37 listening stations that alert beachgoers when tagged sharks are detected near popular swimming and surfing areas.
In short
- A shark fisherman predicts ocean swimming may become unsafe within a decade.
- He reports catching more and larger sharks.
- A shark expert says the prediction lacks evidence.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The cluster of attacks and Nancarrow’s reported increase in his catches and the sharks’ average weight could reasonably prompt concern that existing protections may not be enough in some areas. Supporters of expanded commercial fishing may argue that reducing shark numbers could lower risks to swimmers and that, after a fatal attack on a child, authorities should take precautionary steps while improving monitoring.
The case against
A rise in one fisherman’s catches does not establish that shark populations are increasing across the coast or that swimming will become unsafe within a decade. McPhee’s point that the forecast lacks supporting evidence, alongside existing detection and warning systems, supports prioritising evidence-based prevention and monitoring over broader fishing that may not reduce the risk.
Explained simply
Sharks live in Australian coastal waters, where people swim and surf. Shark bites are uncommon, but they can cause serious injuries or deaths, and several reported attacks on the New South Wales coast have renewed attention on how to reduce the risk.
Joel Nancarrow is a commercial shark fisherman who argues that more sharks are being caught and that they are getting larger. Marine scientist Dr Daryl McPhee says there is no evidence to support the prediction that ocean swimming will become unsafe within a decade.
New South Wales and Queensland use measures intended to warn or protect beachgoers. In New South Wales, listening stations can alert people when a tagged shark is detected near popular swimming and surfing areas.
Read the full article at the source →
Originally published by Daily Mail as “Aussie beaches could be too dangerous to swim at within years due to rising shark numbers: Shark catcher’s chilling prediction”.