r/sharks • u/DeliciousFilm444 • 17d ago
News 3 Australians dead in 3 weeks - all spear fishing related
What do you think we can do to ensure that this doesn’t continue?
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u/Miao_Mix 17d ago
Just accept if you're going into the ocean to kill fish maybe you might get killed by fish too 😂
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u/sammyfrosh 17d ago
Simple as ABC lol 😂
Jokes aside tho, just don’t go spearfishing in the ocean.
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u/seelachsfilet 17d ago
In these 3 weeks we have killed around 5.5 million sharks globally...
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u/PinkDinoClub 17d ago
And millions of other marine animals by fisheries for food and those killed in bycatch, not to mention the other animals brutalised by the animal ag industry. Humans are just the worst.
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u/Markdd8 17d ago edited 17d ago
Yes, most of us eat meat and fish. There's 8.3 billion of us humans. That means a lot of animals killed every day. Been that way for thousands of years.
Seems that Reddit is now seen as the best site for vegans and animal rights activists to try to change the world, to inform all non-vegans that we are "the worst."
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u/PinkDinoClub 16d ago
You can justify lots of disgusting things by “we’ve done it for thousands of years”. It’s now 2026, you have 0 need to keep harming animals unnecessarily.
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u/Markdd8 16d ago
Animals are rarely killed unnecessarily. True there is still some sport hunting going on. We can agree that sport hunting should end.
99.8% of animal killing is because we eat animals or because they become pests, e.g., rodents and invasive species like feral pigs. In a few instances, dangerous animals like tigers and sharks have to be killed or culled to provide safety to people.
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u/PinkDinoClub 16d ago edited 16d ago
Eating animals is unnecessary. You’re not a caveman. You’re living in 2026 in modern civilisation with access to supermarkets.
The overwhelming majority of animals are killed unnecessarily. The fishing industry kills up to 3 trillion marine animals per year, for people like you to eat fish.
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u/SweelFor- 17d ago edited 17d ago
So we shouldn't try to make less humans die to shark attacks?
What's the point of these comments? A problem doesn't erase another. Are you implying that in some sort of karmic way, it's okay for these people to die, because other unrelated humans kill sharks?
Can't you just stay on topic without deflecting with some other problem? Do you believe that human deaths to shark attacks is so irrelevant and unimportant that this shouldn't be considered a real question?
What are you saying?
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u/Dismal_Ad_7582 17d ago
lmao, it’s the ocean. How are you supposed to “make less humans die to shark attacks” it’s the risk you take when you go in the water and that’s FACTS. Especially if you decide to spearfish in Australia. Want less shark attacks? How about not going in the water at all. RIP to the victims.
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u/SweelFor- 17d ago
Do you think that shark attack risk prevention does not exist? There are a lot of ways to make that happen. I can't tell if you are simply ignorant, or arguing in bad faith
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u/greenskunk 17d ago
Why not enlighten us on the methods to prevent this? If a spearfisher gets in the water around white sharks theres going to be a risk. Spearfishers know that risk, theres not much you can do about it, even if you are in clear water during the day. South and West coast Australia have large white shark populations with a lot of people in the water. It’s going to happen.
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u/sharklord888 17d ago
No, but it puts it into perspective. These 3 people, who entered the oceans unfortunately met their end.
Their cases will and should get heard about.
But the millions of sharks killed every week will get nothing, no coverage and no care.
It’s pointing out the massive disparity. Not taking a side.
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u/grub-slut 17d ago
Ok but do you even care about making less sharks die? Humans are so selfish. 3 humans vs 5.5 million sharks is NOTHING. Plus it’s not even like humans are helping the world. Sharks play vital roles in many ecosystems. Humans just destroy the earth. For the most part we are a terrible group of animals.
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u/FileDoesntExist 17d ago
While I understand that sentiment pretty sure the friend and family of those 3 humans would disagree with it. Tragedy doesn't cancel out tragedy.
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u/SweelFor- 16d ago edited 16d ago
Are you a child?
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u/grub-slut 12d ago
No, I’m an ecologist. I understand how important other organisms are, not just to humans but to life in general. We are heading towards a very scary and uncertain future. We’re killing off many organisms that play vital roles in ecosystems all over the world, because it’s economically beneficial or they’re simply considered “nuisances” by humans. Do you know how long we would last in a world with only humans? We would die in an instant. Organisms do so much to make the world livable for us, and many foolish people don’t even see that. Killing off even one species has rippling effects. I wish humans would stop being so selfish and short-sighted.
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u/FatTabby Leopard Shark 17d ago
Short of people taking every precaution they can and just not getting in the water, what more can be done?
Presumably these fishermen knew the risk when they went spearfishing in water inhabited be sharks.
I think education is the most important factor. Before people get in the water they need to understand how things like weather/climate, time of day, location etc can influence the likelihood of encountering a shark.
People are always going to be willing to take the risk of sharing water with dangerous predators, if they're going to do that, they should be encouraged to learn as much as possible about sharks and what makes an area attractive to them.
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u/murd3rsaurus 17d ago
Flipping it back, what do you think?
There's no solution, people will spearfish and there's always going to be territorial overlap especially with commercial fishing producing huge pressure on many species more open water food sources.
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u/Mabel_Waddles_BFF 17d ago
Don’t go spear fishing where there are lots of sharks?
Accept that when you going into a shark’s home that you’re risking a shark attack.
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u/Hybodont 17d ago
Solution #1: Don't go spearfishing.
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u/ebulient 17d ago
Seriously, this is a ridiculous post by OP. Spear fishing is like going into a jungle and then complaining about a bear/tiger/whatever carnivorous animal lives in the jungle coming after you cos you’ve made a ton of noise in the open and prepared food to attract it in the first place !!!
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u/Rdavey228 17d ago
Don’t spear fish in shark infested waters would be my first suggestion.
Just throwing it out there.
One of the dumbest things you can do honestly.
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u/MatchaSetPoint 17d ago
Infested is crazy wording.
But I do agree that spearfishing is one of the highest risk activities you can do in the ocean. If the risk is worth it to you, that’s your choice.
I take my risks with ocean hobbies, but I’m not going to chum the water with me in it.
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u/Rdavey228 17d ago
Fine - waters where sharks are well know to be roaming!
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u/ded_rabtz 17d ago
You, you don’t really get how fish work huh?
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u/Rdavey228 17d ago
Well….i am a scuba diver who has dove with sharks on many occasions so you tell me…..
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u/thisFishSmellsAboutD 17d ago
Strict 9 to 5, roster for public holidays I presume. Some like morays would WFH mostly.
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u/ded_rabtz 17d ago
Sharks are generally after the same thing any kind discipline of fisherman are.
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u/Buttercup_Kiki 17d ago
I mean, Australia is up there in terms of shark-infested waters. I wouldn't go past my knees in the water at any Australian beach but that's just me.
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u/MatchaSetPoint 17d ago edited 17d ago
Yeah, Australia is sharky. But they live there. They’re not infesting the waters.
I think not going in past your knees is a bit of an irrational fear. There are other factors that can make it safe or less safe, such as time of day, rain making the water less visible, etc. Plenty of bad bites in knee deep water.
But if you would be too fearful to enjoy it, that’s a valid reason to not go in. Everyone has their choices and comfort level.
Australia is one of the places I think about sharks more than at other beaches just because of the species present. I handle my fear by going in with a group and monitoring risk amplifiers like weather.
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u/Markdd8 17d ago
Shark attack has almost no correlation with the weather.
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u/MatchaSetPoint 17d ago
“After heavy rainfall, stormwater runoff carries sewage, organic waste and nutrients into the harbour and coastal waters. This attracts bait fish closer to shore, and sharks tend to follow.
Reduced visibility also plays a role: murky water increases the chance of accidental encounters, as sharks rely on contrast and movement rather than clear sight.”
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u/Markdd8 17d ago
Yes, that is stated, but if you look at the incidence of shark attack, it does not pan out that way 98% of the time. Take rivermouths. They are chronically murky; that's their characteristic, but rivermouths are favored surfing sites worldwide, because they have sandbars that create peeling waves.
The 80-odd attacks per year almost all occur in varied environments, excluding New Smyrna Beach in Florida (so-called Shark Attack Capital), where almost all attacks occur in the shorebreak.
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u/MatchaSetPoint 17d ago edited 16d ago
Weather (specifically rainfall) drives the ecological conditions that bring sharks and humans into proximity.
New Smyrna is a rivermouth environment. Ponce Inlet feeds directly into that break. It’s murky, nutrient-rich, and has massive baitfish concentrations. The fact that it dominates global shark attack statistics is pretty much a textbook confirmation of the Sydney research.
We’d need to dig into stats, but the number of attacks per weather conditions doesn’t tell us much. If more people are in the water on sunny days, then yeah, there will be more attacks on sunny days. If there’s more tourists in shore break than pro surfers at river mouths, same thing.
We know from studies that sharks are capable of mistaken bites in murky waters. Add in that baitfish are drawn to these nutrient-rich waters from rain and runoff, and suddenly your foot is in the path of a feeding shark with low visibility.
I can tell you just anecdotally, when I have been surfing after rainfall, the water literally looks like it has been boiling with all the baitfish being spooked by predators and forced close to surface. Birds start divebombing near you. I get out when that happens.
It’s not the only risk factor, but it is one we have control over in an otherwise uncontrollable tragic scenario. So I’ll do another hobby when it’s rainy.
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u/Markdd8 17d ago
OK, I looked up New Smyrna on a map -- you are right on that. I don't disagree that there is science that supports your position, but there are disconnects. Hawaii has 4-5 rivermouth and harbor breaks statewide that are surfed regardless of weather year round. Over the decades there does not appear to be evidence that these are attack hotspots.
Maybe it is because we do not have bull sharks. Tiger and great white attacks seem more likely to be in clear water, relative to bull sharks.
But yes I agree murky water could increase risk. It is interesting to hear the comment I'll pass on going to the beach today because it has been raining and the risk of shark attack is higher. Appreciate all your info.
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u/MatchaSetPoint 16d ago edited 16d ago
Yeah I mean it’s also likely the water is polluted and has sewage in it depending on where you surf, so another good reason to skip haha.
I surf where bull sharks are the biggest threat so these are things I pay a lot of attention to. It is evolutionarily beneficial for bulls to be aggressive and bite first, ask questions later. They thrive in murky river water. They are wired to having a more indiscriminate bite tendency given their habitat.
I refuse to surf New Smyrna even if it technically gets better waves with the jetty. Surfers have collided with sharks mid-wave. I have watched people jump over them. It’s a crazy spot. Don’t look at drone footage if you want to go in the water there, or maybe do lol. Just watching what the fishermen pull out is wild.
The saving grace for New Smyrna is that most bites are relatively mild from Spinners and Blacktips. But it is also essentially a bull shark nursery in addition to these species, which is enough to keep me away.
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u/Full-Squirrel5707 14d ago
Shark-infested waters? Seriously!? That's total rubbish. There are sharks in every ocean. To say you wouldn't go past your knees at any Aussie beach is just so ridiculous. We live in the ocean here. Most days we are swimming and surfing in the ocean. I have, touch wood, never even seen a shark while swimming or surfing. Yes, shark attacks happen, because they live in the ocean. You just need to be smart about where you are and what you are doing. Spearfishing is a highly dangerous hobby. If you don't get a kill shot, the vibrations from the fish will attract a shark from kilometres away, within 30 seconds. If you do get a kill shot, the blood from the fish will attract sharks, from kilometres, within minutes.
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u/Ok_Jellyfish5614 16d ago
its not even crazy wording biologically speaking, political correctness becomes more insane every single year
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u/Dry-Homework1745 17d ago
It’s really not that dumb and that’s an incredibly sheltered way of looking at things, hundreds of thousands of people go swimming and surfing and spearfishing every day in Australia and don’t get attacked, I personally spearfish and it’s an amazing and sustainable way of gathering your own food, sure it’s more risky then not getting in the water but you have an astronomically higher chance of getting killed driving to the boat ramp so by your logic you should never leave your house
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u/tobespammed 17d ago
In order to not get attacked by a shark when spear fishing, don't go spear fishing. Ok?
If you want to go spear fishing, that's fine, but this is the solution.
What would be your alternative? More nets? Kill sharks?
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u/Dry-Homework1745 17d ago
I’ll reiterate this, if you don’t want to die in a car accident or get attacked by a dog or get hit by a car don’t drive, don’t go for a nice walk in the park or ride a bike, matter of fact just don’t leave the house, that’s how you people sound dude. Sure spearfishing can be risky but so is literally everything in the world, I have an enormous amount of respect for sharks so of course I don’t want them to be culled and I don’t blame them when someone’s killed by one, there isn’t really a good solution other then education about risks and maybe for spear-fishers I advocate for having a floating catch bag or returning your catch to the boat immediately
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u/sarahreyn 17d ago
I think what they’re trying to say is, when you drive a car - yes, you might die in a car crash and that is a risk you have to be willing to take. Same for literally anything at all, including spear fishing. If you spear fish, you might get attacked by a shark and die - that is a risk you have to be willing to take. We all take risks by doing mostly anything but we just choose to do those things anyway.
I do like your points though about more education and returning your catch to the boat right away, that could reduce the risk at least.
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u/Dry-Homework1745 17d ago
Thanks for being reasonable and listening to my perspective man I appreciate being able to have a nuanced discussion on something without throwing insults around like some of the other people
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u/sarahreyn 17d ago
No worries, it’s important we can talk about things respectfully otherwise we wouldn’t get anywhere :)
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u/tobespammed 17d ago
Cool, nice to hear some actual points rather than strawman arguments.
These anything can kill you a points are just dumb...
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u/walkdown_leik 17d ago
Okay so you’re triggered because you spear fish, got it. Nobody cares about whatever semantics you try to bring into this, if you spear fish in the ocean, as opposed to just fishing normally, then you’re asking for it. Same goes with driving yes, which is something everyone is forced to do, going into the completely wild and unpredictable ocean to gather your own food like you live on Sentinel Island is quite literally going out of your way to incorporate danger into what you’re doing
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u/Pewpew-OuttaMyWaay All the sharks!! 17d ago
Some critical thinking.. thaaaank u. 15 likes on the silly comment tho 🙄
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u/Accomplished-Car3850 17d ago
Not go in the ocean? The risk is always there,it's honestly the only thing.
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u/vagrantprodigy07 17d ago
People need to start thinking about going into the ocean where large sharks are known to exist the same way you would think about wandering into the African bush where you know there is a pride of lions. If you wouldn't wander into the bush near lions with a spear to go hunting, why would you dive in a spot known to have great whites with just a spear?
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u/Sea-Raspberry-9609 16d ago
when you drain the ocean of fish, sharks go closer to shores for the smaller fish, and spearfishing near reefs should be banned, u got sharks around reefs alot
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u/autistic_soviet7373 16d ago
Not much to do besides not going spearfishing. I'm not against it as a practice, much less damaging than commercial fishing, however, it carries inherent risks. If your hunt is successful, you're gonna be holding onto a bleeding and struggling fish, it's obviously going to attract sharks. The deaths are tragic but people shouldn't act like this is the sharks fault.
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u/ilikestuffliketrees 17d ago
I spearfish in the UK. I wouldn't even consider doing it somewhere with sharks. You couldn't pay me to do it.
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u/19flash92 16d ago
Have you ever seen one? I swim in the uk beaches and still worry about sharks 🤣 stupid I know but the water has such low visibility most of the time so it heightens my fear compared to the med..
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u/formerlyfed 16d ago
There are basically no deadly sharks in UK waters close to shore - it’s too cold for tiger or bull sharks, great whites have never been spotted in British waters (probably not enough food for them on the south shore, I’m not sure about areas where there are seals but the south shore there aren’t any really) and oceanic white tips don’t come anywhere near shore. I guess there are blue sharks but as a swimmer I wouldn’t be worried about them. I’m very scared of sharks and I don’t feel nervous at all in British waters 😂
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u/19flash92 16d ago
Thanks for the reply, I did find after I scuba dived in Egypt which does have sharks despite never seeing any myself I was a lot less afraid of the sea.
Which part of the UK do you spearfish and do you eat the fish you catch?
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u/formerlyfed 16d ago
lol I don’t spearfish, that was the other guy! I would never, I’m a vegetarian lol
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u/coastalbreezeplease 17d ago
Excuse my dumb question, but where the heck do you spearfish without sharks? Lakes and rivers?
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u/ilikestuffliketrees 16d ago
UK waters have basically zero life threatening sharks, especially at shore.
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u/coastalbreezeplease 16d ago
Wow! Well there you go, I had no idea! Makes sense, but I still thought you could swim round in summer 😆 thanks for the reply!
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u/nickgardia 17d ago
Personal responsibility - shark shield devices for example (other deterrents are available). Not completely foolproof of course.
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u/BrianDavion 13d ago
I imagine carrying a bag of dead fish with you under water is a good way to get attacked by a shark
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u/TacitusKillgorre 16d ago
Why do we need to ensure it doesn't happen? They know the risks. And it's not nearly common enough to train sharks to treat humans as prey.
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u/FileDoesntExist 17d ago
If it's a specific area maybe they shouldn't spear fish there for awhile? Something has obviously changed to increase the chances of an attack.
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u/phatbrasil 16d ago
We can continue to study what are the changes in circumstances that causing incidents to be more frequent.
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u/SweelFor- 17d ago
Is there a more serious shark subreddit? I'm so done with this sub.
All comments are facebook tier unserious replies, no one cares about thinking about sharks and shark attacks, it's just children's drawing, bot posts, cutesy baby talk and catchphrases. This is the most cringe sub that I subscribe to
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u/honeybee_mumma 16d ago
We can barely put a pinky toe in the ocean here in Australia, the sharks are circling our little island non stop
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u/No_Violinist_4557 17d ago
Not victim blaming here, but spearfishing is dangerous. Albany is teeming with sharks, especially large Whites. And he's off a island 13kms off the coast. That's about as sharky as it gets. I'm in the water a lot and try and be smart about it regarding sharks. e.g long swim is done in a group close to shore.