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Sharks are a fact of life in Western Australia – they're even on Twitter Sharks are a fact of life in Western Australia – they're even on Twitter
(about 4 hours later)
It was a calm, grey morning in November 2000, when the unthinkable happened.It was a calm, grey morning in November 2000, when the unthinkable happened.
A group of regular North Cottesloe swimmers were taking their early A group of regular North Cottesloe swimmers were taking their early
morning dip when one of their own was attacked by a great white in morning dip when one of their own was attacked by a great white in
waist-deep water. Witnesses tell how the shark circled its victim, Ken waist-deep water. Witnesses tell how the shark circled its victim, Ken
Crew, in tight symmetrical circles, before it lunged at him and ripped Crew, in tight symmetrical circles, before it lunged at him and ripped
his leg off. The shark then turned towards the shore. By this stage a his leg off. The shark then turned towards the shore. By this stage a
large amount of blood was visible in the ocean.large amount of blood was visible in the ocean.
DirkDirk
Avery, nearly at shore after finishing his morning swim, was oblivious Avery, nearly at shore after finishing his morning swim, was oblivious
to what happened until he heard “shark attack!” He turned around to see to what happened until he heard “shark attack!” He turned around to see
the great white only a metre away. Avery managed to push the shark away,the great white only a metre away. Avery managed to push the shark away,
which was now struggling and thrashing in the shallow waters. He which was now struggling and thrashing in the shallow waters. He
escaped with severe cuts but survived. Crew was not so lucky. After escaped with severe cuts but survived. Crew was not so lucky. After
being brought to shore he died on the beach. That grey calmness of that being brought to shore he died on the beach. That grey calmness of that
morning would come to be known as “sharky weather”.morning would come to be known as “sharky weather”.
ForFor
anyone growing up in Western Australia sharks were always a vague fear anyone growing up in Western Australia sharks were always a vague fear
in the back of everyone’s mind, but the attack on Crew and Avery broughtin the back of everyone’s mind, but the attack on Crew and Avery brought
a visceral reality to the imagined threat. To say the psyche of the a visceral reality to the imagined threat. To say the psyche of the
city changed that day is not an exaggeration, but rather than flee from city changed that day is not an exaggeration, but rather than flee from
the shores that so define Perth, West Australians have come to accept the shores that so define Perth, West Australians have come to accept
the dangers their favourite beachside pastimes bring with them. It’s athe dangers their favourite beachside pastimes bring with them. It’s a
truth they’ve had to revisit more than they’d like. truth they’ve had to revisit more than they’d like.
Since that day in 2000, there have been 11 fatal shark attacks in WA, the highest rate of shark attacks in the world (the chance of being attacked has doubled in that time, but still remains low at one in a million). It’s on the minds of every West Australian when they enter the ocean. University of Western Australia researchers believeSince that day in 2000, there have been 11 fatal shark attacks in WA, the highest rate of shark attacks in the world (the chance of being attacked has doubled in that time, but still remains low at one in a million). It’s on the minds of every West Australian when they enter the ocean. University of Western Australia researchers believe
the increase has more to do with an explosion in Perth’s population the increase has more to do with an explosion in Perth’s population
than shark numbers. The latest fatal attack, a 35-year-old surfer taken than shark numbers. The latest fatal attack, a 35-year-old surfer taken
in Gracetown, saw the WA government implement a shark cull, allowing forin Gracetown, saw the WA government implement a shark cull, allowing for
great white, tiger, and bull sharks larger than three metres to be killed, great white, tiger, and bull sharks larger than three metres to be killed,
while smaller sharks are to be released.while smaller sharks are to be released.
There has been widescale public revolt.There has been widescale public revolt.
To fully understand the backlash against the cull one needs to To fully understand the backlash against the cull one needs to
understand Australia’s relationship with the ocean. Surrounded by the understand Australia’s relationship with the ocean. Surrounded by the
sea, our pristine beaches have come to represent so much of our nationalsea, our pristine beaches have come to represent so much of our national
identity, and within that so has the image of the great white. These identity, and within that so has the image of the great white. These
predators are now national folklore. Along with strong scientific doubtspredators are now national folklore. Along with strong scientific doubts
the cull will achieve much, the sanctioned killing of sharks cuts away the cull will achieve much, the sanctioned killing of sharks cuts away
at the very fabric of our identity, something the WA government, headed at the very fabric of our identity, something the WA government, headed
by Colin Barnett (dubbed Cullin’ Barnett by locals), has failed to by Colin Barnett (dubbed Cullin’ Barnett by locals), has failed to
grasp.grasp.
Before the WA government’s decree, ads have been played across Perth radiosBefore the WA government’s decree, ads have been played across Perth radios
the last couple of years warning people to be aware of sharks while the last couple of years warning people to be aware of sharks while
swimming (particularly around dusk and dawn). People took the message inswimming (particularly around dusk and dawn). People took the message in
their stride. Scientists recently started to use the a the Surf their stride. Scientists recently started to use the a the Surf
Lifesaving WA Twitter feed (@SLSWA)Lifesaving WA Twitter feed (@SLSWA)
to warn surfers and swimmers when sharks are nearing shore. But it is to warn surfers and swimmers when sharks are nearing shore. But it is
the sharks themselves who were doing the tweeting, with at least 320 the sharks themselves who were doing the tweeting, with at least 320
sharks, including great whites, equipped with transmitters that update sharks, including great whites, equipped with transmitters that update
Twitter with information about their movements up and down the coast. Twitter with information about their movements up and down the coast.
When a tagged shark comes within about one kilometre of a beach it When a tagged shark comes within about one kilometre of a beach it
triggers an alert like this:triggers an alert like this:
“Fisheries advise: tagged tiger shark detected at Garden Island (north “Fisheries advise: tagged tiger shark detected at Garden Island (north
end) receiver at 07:58:00 AM on 9-Feb-2014.” Sometimes there are as manyend) receiver at 07:58:00 AM on 9-Feb-2014.” Sometimes there are as many
as eight tweets like that in a day. The messages are as much a as eight tweets like that in a day. The messages are as much a
testimony to the acceptance of the (tweeting!) presence of these ocean testimony to the acceptance of the (tweeting!) presence of these ocean
inhabitants as they are a warning to stay clear.inhabitants as they are a warning to stay clear.
Fisheries advise: tagged Tiger shark detected at Garden Island (north end) receiver at 07:56:00 AM on 9-Feb-2014Fisheries advise: tagged Tiger shark detected at Garden Island (north end) receiver at 07:56:00 AM on 9-Feb-2014
WestWest
Australians in particular are used to harsh environments. Perth sits on Australians in particular are used to harsh environments. Perth sits on
the edge of a desert, essentially a big mining town with the new BP the edge of a desert, essentially a big mining town with the new BHP
building erected like a stake in the heart of the city, laying its building erected like a stake in the heart of the city, laying its
claim. While, for the most part, people willingly scour the land for claim. While, for the most part, people willingly scour the land for
minerals to bask in the glory of the lifestyle it grants (including minerals to bask in the glory of the lifestyle it grants (including
large boats they moor for the summer along Rottnest Island), the line large boats they moor for the summer along Rottnest Island), the line
has always been in the sand. It its an unspoken law that the ocean is has always been in the sand. It its an unspoken law that the ocean is
out of bounds. It demands respect. On average more people die in WA in a yearout of bounds. It demands respect. On average more people die in WA in a year
while hunting abalone than being “hunted” by sharks. They know the risk while hunting abalone than being “hunted” by sharks. They know the risk
and yet they take it. That has always been the way of the West. and yet they take it. That has always been the way of the West.
This article was amended on 10 February 2014; it is the BHP building, not the BP building.