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Australia has experienced yet another tragic incident involving a shark, as a surfer fell victim to a fatal bite in the southern part of the country. This marks the fourth death related to sharks in the region within the last 18 months, reigniting discussions about the dangers these marine creatures pose.
Shark bites can be severe events, and in a nation where ocean activities are prevalent, such incidents tend to elevate public anxiety regarding these predators.
So, what insights do we have about shark bite incidents in Australia? Is the concern justified?
Are fatalities from shark bites on the rise?
Dr. Daryl McPhee, an expert studying unprovoked shark bites at Bond University, highlights a concerning trend. From 2014 to 2023, Australia recorded an average of 2.7 deaths annually due to shark bites, a notable increase from the earlier average of 1.8 deaths per year during the preceding decade.
Dr. McPhee attributes this rise partly to population growth, which results in greater numbers of people engaging in ocean activities. Despite this increase, he reassures that the likelihood of experiencing a shark bite remains quite low, with fatal encounters being even less common.
Are there more shark bites in Australia than other countries?
The year 2023 saw a total of 10 fatal shark bites worldwide, with four occurring in Australia, three of which were along the coast of South Australia where the recent victim was reported missing. Current analyses for 2024 are still underway.
Dr. Gavin Naylor, who leads the shark research program at the Florida Museum of Natural History, manages the International Shark Attack File, a database that chronicles shark incidents. He notes that while data for 2024 is not finalized, the year has been “fairly quiet” in terms of shark bite incidents globally.
Why does Australia see more shark deaths than other places?
Dr. Naylor points out that Australians are often engaged in aquatic sports, leading to increased exposure to sharks. As a result, it’s expected that Australia may report a higher number of shark bites compared to other regions.
However, he emphasizes that Australia’s beach rescue services are highly effective, likely mitigating the impact of such incidents on mortality rates. A 2022 study analyzing 200 years of shark bite data indicates that survival rates from shark bites have improved in recent decades, possibly because victims are often closer to people who can help them.
The research showed an 88% survival rate for white shark bite victims on a watercraft compared to a 45% survival rate for those swimming or diving.
What’s the risk in Australia of being killed by a shark?
In Australia, the death rate from shark bites is notably low, at just under three deaths annually. This contrasts starkly with the 150 drowning fatalities at coastal areas reported from July 2023 to June 2024, of which 84 occurred at beaches. Dr. McPhee provides a sobering perspective: individuals are approximately 20 times more likely to drown than to be killed by a shark.
Who is most likely to be attacked by a shark?
The dynamic of shark attacks has shifted, with an increasing number of surfers becoming victims rather than swimmers, according to Dr. McPhee. Following World War II, surfing gained immense popularity, leading surfers to spend extended periods in deeper waters.
Dr. Naylor notes that surfers often linger in murky waters around surf breaks, which coincides with feeding areas for sharks, leading to potential misidentification. Sharks might inadvertently bite surfers thinking they are prey, rather than deliberately targeting humans.
He clarifies that sharks do not inherently seek out humans as food. “If sharks targeted people, we would see significantly higher fatality rates,” he stated.
Why do people fear sharks if the risk is so small?
Dr. McPhee identifies several reasons behind the pervasive fear of sharks:
Firstly, humans have an ingrained fear of creatures that posed threats to their ancestors, such as bears, snakes, and sharks.
Secondly, the capability to vividly recall dangers, accentuated by iconic media portrayals like the infamous 1975 film Jaws, amplifies this fear.
Additionally, fears heighten when individuals perceive a lack of control over potential threats.
Lastly, immediate risks garner more attention, especially through media coverage of shark incidents.
“It’s no wonder the Discovery Channel has a shark week but lacks a similar feature for less sensational topics,” he comments.
According to Dr. Brianna Le Busque from the University of South Australia, public perception often underplays the risks associated with drowning, despite the fact that it claims significantly more lives than shark attacks. “People commonly believe they can manage their actions in water, which contributes to their perception of control,” she explains.
In South Australia alone, the recent fatalities have contributed to heightened fears. “Recency bias plays a role in recollection,” Dr. Le Busque observes. “The fear of sharks is natural as they can inflict harm, but our sense of risk becomes distorted. Repeated exposure to the same storyline makes it feel more frequent than it truly is.”
Source
www.theguardian.com