An expert in shark behavior has boldly declared his intention to personally capture more sharks, expressing his readiness to “pay the fine” following a series of attacks that he insists were entirely foreseeable.
Joel Nancarrow, the proprietor of Hunter Shark Jaw Restoration, unleashed a fervent warning online after what he noted as the third shark encounter within 48 hours. He cautioned that the upcoming week could be ‘the most perilous period we’ve witnessed in years.’
“This is not about fear-mongering; this is legitimate danger,” he asserted. “This won’t be the last incident.”
Determined to make his point, he added, “I’m gathering my gear and heading down in a few days. I’ll be taking liberties with the bag limits, a step I’m prepared to take to underscore my point, and I’ll deal with any fines that result.”
These remarks indicate that Mr. Nancarrow is ready to intentionally flout fishing regulations by surpassing the legal catch limits.
In New South Wales, individuals are restricted to catching one bull shark per day.
Beaches in Sydney are on lockdown after three people, including two children, were attacked by sharks in just 26 hours.
The most recent attack at North Steyne Beach in Manly left a surfer in his 20s fighting for his life after he was bitten on the lower leg on Monday.
Earlier the same day, an 11-year-old boy was knocked from his surfboard by a large shark at Dee Why Point, with several bites taken out of his board.
Joel Nancarrow says the attacks were entirely predictable and warns the coming week could be the most dangerous swimmers have faced in years
The beach was closed at the time due to dangerous swell, with shark nets set as normal.
The attacks followed another incident on Sunday afternoon at Shark Beach in Vaucluse, where a 12-year-old boy was bitten while swimming with friends at a popular jump rock outside the netted swimming area. His friends helped him to shore.
While shark attacks remain rare, Mr Nancarrow warned they are becoming increasingly predictable, particularly during periods of heavy rain combined with warm water and crowded beaches.
‘We can almost predict these incidents now. If we can do this, why can’t the science put stronger warnings out there?’
Mr Nancarrow said bull sharks were present in ‘massive numbers’ throughout Sydney Harbour and nearby waterways, driven closer to shore by recent rainfall.
He explained that muddy water reduces visibility and pushes large predators out of rivers and into beaches and harbourside swimming spots in search of food.
‘There will be a lot more big ones moving out of the rivers to feed along the beaches this week,’ he said.
‘They are aggressive predators with no limit to what they will bite. A 12-year-old child is a snack for something like these.’
Mr Nancarrow says heavy rain, warm water and murky conditions are driving bull sharks out of rivers and into crowded beaches in search of food. Pictured: A bull shark in Sydney Harbour
Female bull sharks can give birth to up to 20 pups at a time, with hundreds entering the harbour system each season.
Mr Nancarrow said the fast-growing juveniles quickly become dangerous as they mature.
‘With the sharks being in larger numbers, sharks that usually wouldn’t bite a human will have to become more opportunistic due to an increased competition for food.’
Police on Monday urged people not to swim in murky, low-visibility water after bucketing rain drenched Sydney and its surrounds at the weekend.
Extra fresh water in the harbour after recent heavy rain, combined with the splashing effect from people jumping off a rock face, created a ‘perfect storm’ for Sunday’s shark attack, Superintendent Joseph McNulty said.
‘I would recommend not swimming in the harbour or our other river systems across NSW at this time,’ he told reporters before the Dee Why incident was reported.
Heavy swell has also prevented the operation of smart drumlines, which notify authorities of shark activity along most of the NSW coast since Sunday.
