Human-Shark Encounters Rise in Australia, Experts Say Sharks Are Not to Blame

Human-shark encounters along Australia’s east coast have increased sharply in recent days, alarming the public and prompting beach closures. However, experts stress that the sharks themselves are not at fault.

Shark researcher Chris Pepin Neff described the situation as “extraordinary,” noting that four shark bites occurred within just 48 hours, with three incidents happening within a 15km stretch of coastline.

On January 18, a 12-year-old boy was critically injured while swimming in Sydney Harbour and later died. The following day, an 11-year-old’s surfboard was bitten at Dee Why beach, and just hours later, a man was attacked at nearby Manly beach and hospitalized in critical condition. On January 20, another surfer suffered a chest wound after a shark bit his board around 300km further north.

“This is the closest  in both proximity and time series of shark bites I’ve seen in my 20 years of research,” said Pepin Neff, an associate professor at the University of Sydney.

Following the incidents, dozens of beaches were closed amid fears of further attacks, and calls for shark culls have grown louder. However, marine experts have warned against such measures, saying they are ineffective and harmful to marine ecosystems.

Instead, researchers are urging greater public awareness of shark behavior and a reassessment of how humans interact with ocean wildlife. They note that several environmental and human related factors may have contributed to the recent incidents.

Experts emphasize that sharks are a vital part of the marine ecosystem and that improving safety measures and education is a better solution than blaming the animals.