The Dorsal Fin

Australia’s The Telegraph is reporting that onlookers claim a juvenile great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) was “bludgeoned to death in front of crying children.” The incident reportedly took place at Sussex Inlet in New South Wales. The 2m shark had been hooked by a fisherman and then landed on the boat dock where eyewitnesses claim the shark was beaten to death with a metal pole.

The killing of a white shark in Australia is punishable by a fine of up to $11,000 and a two-year jail sentence, according to The Telegraph.

It was reported that some of the people on the scene claimed that the shark (seen in this photo) was a mako (Isurus oxyrinchus), which is not protected in Australia. A spokesperson for the Department of Primary Industries, who are investigating the incident, said that thinking the shark was a mako was “not an excuse.”

To read the full article head over The Telegraph.

Australia’s ABC News is reporting that a 28-year-old man sustained a shark bite to the arm while surfing off North Avoca, NSW yesterday.

The Herald Sun reports that witnesses described the shark as being brown in color and about 1.8m in length. The surfer was taken to Gosford Hospital with injuries that were not considered life-threatening. According to the Herald Sun, a hospital spokesman said that the victim was in a satisfactory condition and might not even need stitches.

The Conversation has an interesting article on the history of shark nets in Australia. The article, written by Christopher Neff, focuses primarily on the use of shark nets in the waters of New South Wales and gives a bit of history about how the nets first came to be. Neff also touches on the politics associated with the nets and the effectiveness of them in protecting humans from shark attacks.

Neff questions the effectiveness of shark nets noting that from 1937-2008 of the recorded shark attacks in New South Wales, 63% of them occurred at beaches using shark nets. He also points out that only one fatal attack has occurred at a netted beach in the state, but cautions that associating low fatality rates with the nets might be questionable, as there was a three year period in which the nets were removed and no fatalities were reported.

While the Neff certainly seems to lean in the direction of opposing the nets he admits that the issue of Australia’s shark nets is not a simple matter. Neff stresses the need for public safety measures and points out that the consequences from shark attacks can be “terrible.” However, he notes that public dialog and education are necessary to move away from outdated tactics that are leaving Australia behind.

You can check Neff’s full article at The Conversation.

According to Ten News a white shark has been filmed and photographed unusually close to the shore at Hawks Nest, NSW. Images and video show what the Ten News describe as a 3.5m great white shark swimming among the waves at Bennett Beach. Lifeguards believe that bait fish are attracting sharks close to the shore.

A surfer injured in a shark attack off of Crowdy Head, New South Wales, is recovering after 5 hours of surgery, according to The Telegraph. Dave Pearson suffered injuries to his arm and forehead after being bitten by a shark while surfing around dusk on Tuesday evening.

Fellow surfer and friend, Aaron Wallis, helped Pearson to shore after the attack happened. Wallis used the a surfboard leash as a makeshift tourniquet, and Crowdy Head surf club caretaker, Adam Eady, administered oxygen to Pearson, while they waited for emergency medical help to arrive.

Pearson’s wife told Australia’s Ten News, he was able to move his fingers as of yesterday. Eady told Ten News that the attack “won’t stop” Pearson and that he would be back in the water.

Australian shark scientists are investigating the injuries to Pearson, as well as bite marks on his surfboard, to determine the species and size of the shark involved.