When I heard there was another shark attack in Ballina this week I’ll admit I barely raised an eyelid. The incident at Sharpes beach marked the 16th shark attack in NSW since September 2015. Just hours later Premier Mike Baird announced that he would be requesting a six-month trial of shark nets in the area – his second backflip on policy in as many days after saying he got it “wrong” to have closed down the greyhound industry in NSW.
Baird’s announcement sent mainstream media and anyone with Facebook into frenzy. Battlelines have been drawn between two distinct camps; those that want immediate action such as drum lines, nets or culling and those that want more research to be done or a non-threatening marine-safe alternative. It appears the Premier has succumbed to public pressure to make a special exemption to a moratorium on shark nets, falling into camp a. Wednesday’s announcement could be viewed a as applying a band-aid solution to treat an artery wound.
The issue is far too divisive for many to lay claim to a firm opinion. However, a year on from producing The Fatal Coast documentary for Tracks I feel that the government has relented to mounting pressure and decided to play the short game and take a quick political win.
“We have to prioritise human life over everything," said Baird. "The sentiment in that North Coast community has shifted. They were against nets. The recent attacks have started to shift that. There is a mood and a change within that community.”
Local Greens MP, Tamara Smith, immediately condemned the decision on Twitter.
“Baird just announced mesh nets for Ballina beaches and Labor [sic] agree. Look forward to dead Dolphins on our beaches.”
This is what we will now see on our beautiful north coast #nomeshnets pic.twitter.com/wtn68iNQPs
— Tamara Smith (@GreensTamara) October 12, 2016
Ballina Councillor and Vice President of Seabird Rescue, Kim Williams told ABC North Coast radio he is concerned that the implementation of shark nets would decimate the local dolphin population.
“There’s a pod of sixty [dolphins] that are known as the Richmond River Pod and they use that beach and that break just at the north wall of the river. Where the surfers like to go is also and where the sharks like to go. We know that and people that surf there know that. If we put nets in that area the DPI estimate we will kill 20 of that pod of 60. One third will die.”
“In terms of where we put nets we have issues that we have a marine park. Surely the government is not going to consider putting a very dangerous fishing device in the middle of a marine park. There’s a very limited opportunity then if you exclude the marine park and near the mouth of the river where you could say that these [nets] are acceptable,” said Williams.
The government has said they will continue to explore other methods of ensuring safety. “But there are extraordinary circumstances,” said Baird. “We have to respond. We will be responding…”
A decision to deploy 100 smart drum lines along north coast beaches was announced by Primary Industries Minister Niall Blair two weeks ago after 17-year-old surfer Cooper Allen was attacked off Lighthouse Beach by a 3.5m great white shark. To some it sounded more like a science project than a safeguard and perhaps that’s why this week’s announcement has provided some comfort to a community who has felt under siege.
Personally the thought of 100 baited hooks bobbing out the back does not fill me with comfort. The 15 that are currently stationed between at Lenox Head and Lighthouse beach in Ballina just last week recorded six great whites in one single day. Despite the DPI championing their Dorsal app and Twitter feed that send notifications for sharks in the area, the thought of up to five times as many sharks being registered per day may only increase anxiety to an already hyper sensitive surfing community.
Byron Bay community website Common Ground have taken up their position with the conservationists. A video they posted yesterday titled ‘shark nets in Ballina explained’ has had over 400 shares and a war of words has erupted on their Facebook post.
“We just heard that the Baird government is installing nets in light of this afternoon's shark incident at Sharpes Beach. We want it to be known that we strongly oppose this, and this is a very good explanation of why. Please share this video far and wide.”
shark nets in ballina explained from Madison Stewart on Vimeo.
The video references infamous shark fisherman Vic Hislop earnestly proclaiming that shark nets do not work and have only been good for killing other wildlife. Narrated and produced by shark conservationist Madison Stewart, it shows multiple images of entangled marine life such as whales, dolphins and turtles.
Equally as emotive is the haunting images of someone who has witnessed a shark attack or been involved in the rescue. The emergency services, lifeguards, family members and close friends live with that trauma for life.
"I used to be the guy who thought you're in their territory… there's a really minor chance of it happening, like getting hit by a car or whatever, you just deal with it but when it actually happens it changes everything, said local Ballina surfer Nathan Bartlett when he who spoke to Hack. Mr Bartlett was surfing with Tadashi Nakahara when he was fatally attacked at Shelly beach. "It really gives you a different outlook on it – that you can have your life taken so quickly."
We do have to respond, time is critical, but just how much time can we waste in making our next move and what will the cost be into the future?
The Fatal Coast from Tracks Magazine on Vimeo.
