Amy smoothey that is investigating the recent spate of shark attacks in sydney harbour, australia. Shark island is an island in sydney harbour, in new south wales, australia. Shark attacks bring panic to sydney s shore this article is more than 11 years old big race cancelled after unprecedented wave of sightings around the harbour and bondi beach. A look back through time at the most gruesome fatal incidents in the citys waters sydney harbour is a sinister soup, swarming with giblets that kill. Little study to date has been done examining the politics of shark attacks, yet these.
Changing patterns of shark attacks in australian waters csiro. Warning of shark attacks in sydney harbour the independent. Western australia now has the unenviable reputation as the worlds deadliest place for shark attacks. Bull shark attacks lone diver i escaped jaws shark. The six most recent fatal shark attacks in sydney all took place in middle harbour two in bantry bay in 1942, one off wyargine point in 1955, one in sugarloaf bay also in 1955, one near roseville bridge in 1960 and one in sugarloaf bay in 1963. The navy is in shock after a shark bit one of its elite divers during a counter terrorism exercise in sydney harbour. Sydney shark attack leaves navy in shock abc news australian. At first she thought it was an octopus bite, perhaps because the prospect of a shark attack in sydney harbour seemed fanciful by comparison. Dont forget to listen in next wednesday morning for more sydney history at 8. In australia, on average over 49 shark attacks happen each year. When australian surfer mick fanning hit the news after surviving an attack by a great white shark during a surfing competition in south africa, the incident reminded the museums usa programs manager richard wood of a family tragedy involving a shark attack in sydney harbour marcias been taken by a shark. No one has been killed by a shark off sydney s beaches or in the harbour since the sixties. Given the number of people that swim in the harbour over the summer and autumn months, it is uncommon for someone to be attacked by a bull shark, the spokesperson continues. There has not bee a fatal attack in the harbour for 41 years.
Beneath the diamondencrusted surface of the harbour city is a watery amphitheatre of death a dimly lit coliseum where the lions and tigers are sharks. Perhaps to warn country people from swimming in sydney harbour or a fascination with being eaten by sharks, the guyra argus. John west, a shark expert from sydney s taronga zoo, said people should be conscious of. Throughout history, the relation between people and sharks has been. The most reputable source for shark incident data in australia is the australian shark attack file, which is collated at sydney s. The paper examines unprovoked shark attacks excluding 15 cases involving wobbegong sharks orectobolus sp. Many stories of sharks provided through mythology, books, news and movies. A navy surveillance camera documents a bull shark attack on a diver. The most recent death from a shark bite in sydney was almost 54 years ago, when actress marcia hathaway was mauled while wading in middle harbour. So anything novel, they quite often have an exploratory bite, he said. Sydneys worst spot for shark attacks is middle harbour.
Shark interactions in sydney harbour are very rare. Australias top shark hotspots the sydney morning herald. Fifty years since fatal shark attack in sydney harbour. Timeline of fatal australian shark attacks in recent history. The rise in australian shark attacks, from an average of 6. This research will provide scientificbased guidelines for minimising the risk of shark attacks within estuaries such as sydney harbour, as well as, some of the necessary information to ensure species in nsw are effectively managed in an ecologically sustainable way. While shark attacks were recorded in sydney harbour and the parramatta. The navy is in shock after a shark bit one of its elite divers during a counterterrorism exercise in sydney harbour. Don t forget to listen in next wednesday morning for more sydney history at 8.
List of fatal shark attacks in australia wikipedia. Shark attack in sydney harbour australian national. Wobbegong shark bites tend to be as a result of a defensive reaction by the shark to people inadvertently getting too close or stepping on them. A history sydney harbour has defined the life of those who have lived around it for millennia.
Shark invasion off sydney, australia pictured here is a team led by marine biologist dr. Living with sharks on the georges river dictionary of sydney. Both abattoirs had a long history of discharging their byproducts directly into the. Shark attacks bring panic to sydneys shore australia. In the book shark attack by victor coppleson 1958 he wrote the whaler is. The following is a list of fatal shark attacks which have taken place in australia. Gavin souters book describes several other shark attacks. There have been at least 16 fatal attacks in sydney harbour since the late 1880s, all in the summer months of december, january, and february. Society australia, sydney, and is affiliated with the international shark attack file. The statistical record of shark attacks in nsw from 17912009 reveals that. Forget jaws, shark attacks highlight need for better education. Sydney harbour, botany bay and port hacking from 18522014. Sadly, most of sydneys fatal shark attack victims slipped seamlessly into anonymity. Thousands of people use our rivers and estuaries every day.