How government can help us avoid shark 'attacks'

16 July 2012




Facing the truth



Previous shark bite prevention methods reinforce the need to prioritise education.

Killing sharks doesn't work

There is no evidence that state authorised shark hunts make water-use safer. Shark nets to cull sharks have not lowered the shark bite rates in New South Wales and do not cover surfing areas. A recent study using the "Shark Shield" on bait and seal decoys showed both encouraging and inconclusive results.


The next step is to develop public education as a way to change the way we think about and use the ocean. However, I am not suggesting a brochure to reduce shark attacks. Specifics matter and communicating exactly what "education" and "change" looks like means identifying how we need to think differently, who needs to change, and what helpful tips are going to start the process. These are questions of science and society.

Christopher Neff: "I am suggesting a fundamental change that looks at the beach as a risk-laden environment."

Education, education, education

I offer three examples from the social science side, as a doctoral researcher studying the "politics of shark attacks" in Australia, South Africa and the United States. I have reviewed how people feel and what policies follow sharks bites. Here are three examples of steps governments can take to help people avoid shark attacks:

First, education means treating a trip to "the beach" like you would a trip to "the bush." This shift in thinking changes our expectations of safety and preparation. Looking at the ocean as the wild, (which it is) means making an informed choice about the risks we are taking based on our behaviour.

Camping alone in the wilderness is dangerous, as is surfing, swimming or snorkeling. Until there is more scientific information on shark behaviour, some beaches may be placed off limits by the government. In Recife Brazil, they have made surfing illegal at certain beaches because of the number of shark attacks. Last week, the city of Chatham in Cape Cod, banned swimming within 100 meters of seals.


Third, we need to assume that the beach is not "safe." As the wild, we presume that shark bites occur. However, since many of us (including me) love the ocean, there may be things we can consider, to better inform our decision-making and governments can tell us more. I use a "Three What's" approach, based on a review of beach safety literature.

These include: 1) What's the weather; 2) What's the time/conditions; and 3) What's my behaviour? Again, there is no perfect set of questions to determine when these events will occur because shark bite incidents happen at the convergence of four points involving: weather conditions, environmental conditions, human behaviour and shark behaviour.

The 15 variables


What's the weather?


2) Level of sunlight, cloudiness (avoid swimming in gloomy, stormy conditions)

What's the time/environmental conditions?

3) Time of day (avoid swimming at dawn or dusk)


5) Temperature of the water (this depends on the species)




What's my behaviour?




12) Wearing a wetsuit/colour (avoid contrasting colours like yellow, white and silver)

13) Wearing jewelry (avoid wearing metal or shiny jewelry)

14) Splashing in the water (avoid splashing when possible)


Re-assesing our relationship with the beach


I am certain that shark conservationists share the belief that the best thing for sharks is for fewer people to face these dreadful situations. In this case, prevention is conservation. But "solutions" require government leadership to help change the view of the beach and behaviour in the water.


Christopher Neff is a PhD candidate at the University of Sydney conducting the first doctoral study of policy responses following shark-bite incidents in Australia, South Africa and the United States.

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