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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/feb/10/western-australia-shark-cull
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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. |
Dirk | Dirk |
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”. |
For | For |
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 brought | in 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 a | the 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 believe | 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 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 for | in 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 national | sea, 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 doubts | predators 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 radios | Before 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 in | swimming (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 many | end) 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-2014 | Fisheries advise: tagged Tiger shark detected at Garden Island (north end) receiver at 07:56:00 AM on 9-Feb-2014 |
West | West |
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 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 year | out 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. |