Lethal Attack Sparks Discussion Over Controversial Marine Barriers in the Land Down Under

The ocean has traditionally been a significant aspect of Glen Butler's existence.

For five decades a wave rider for 50 years and, during that period, he notes he infrequently worried about sharks.

"You understand you're entering into their territory, so you're vigilant," the senior surfer remarked.

But the surfer's comfort in the ocean was broken last month.

He traveled for a ocean outing with his friends one early weekend at the coastal spot in the northern coastal region of Sydney. A few minutes after he left of the water, companion surfer the experienced surfer was fatally attacked by a great white shark.

"It's shaken us somewhat," Mr Butler admits. The victim and his brother Mike were recognized in the area, he continues: "Typically you'd say g'day."

Australia Most Dangerous Location for Shark Incidents

Australia is host to many of the world's best coastal areas. Over 80% of the population lives on the coast, so an sunrise ocean swim or surf is standard for numerous of people every day.

However there are people who think that common practice is turning more hazardous.

Mirek Craney is among them.

The senior local recalls looking at huge white sharks captured by anglers as a child, in the days the now-protected animal could still be permitted to be caught.

Witnessing these dead beasts suspended by their rear fins provoked a "gallows-like" sensation, he explains, but not anxiety. Marine predators were animals of the deep ocean, he thought, and he surfed in the less deep coastal areas.

But several years past, his offspring Anika was nipped by a pig eye shark while free-diving on the coral reef. Even though she lived through, it caused him concerned about the creatures – an issue that increases with each dramatic report about an encounter.

"These events affect me… I'm terrified," he admits.

Though 'The victim was only the next victim fatally attacked by a marine incident in Sydney over the past six decades, it's little comfort to those who commonly frequent the city's beaches.

Every surfer contacted in the weeks after the victim's death commented they believe marine predator observations in shallow waters are becoming more frequent.

"Periodically we could have spotted a unidentified shape, but it might have been a marine mammal," explains Mr Craney. "Currently, I see them all the time."

Several fear that shark numbers are exploding, after various kinds - including the world's two deadliest marine predators, great whites and striped sharks - were granted varying degrees of safeguarding in the nation's oceans.

Scarce research on shark numbers to accurately assess any direction – but specialists argue an rise in sightings isn't always proof there are increased populations.

Marine researchers suggest that heating marine waters are altering the swimming and hunting patterns of marine predators. But scientists say any increase in sightings is largely because of increasing numbers of beachgoers going into the sea, and they are enhanced by social media.

The chance of being nipped by a marine predator here is still extremely small. Individuals are numerous times more probable to drown. It is true, however, that the country is a marine incident danger zone.

It is next after the US - a land with much larger the people - for predator encounters, and it ranks first the globe for fatal attacks, based on the global database.

The tracking system only monitors "unprovoked" encounters – not including those likely stimulated by people through practices such as spear fishing – but a complete database of all recorded predator incidents in the nation is managed by conservation group.

The data indicates that marine incidents have generally been increasing over the past years. Already this year there have been multiple fatal attacks - each non-induced.

Meshes 'Similar to a Napkin in a Swimming Area'

NSW had been about to test scaling back its deployment of marine barriers – its oldest marine protection approach – when the latest deadly incident happened.

Shark nets have been employed in the region since 1937 and presently are commonly installed on numerous coastal areas from late winter through to early autumn. Aside from another region, it is the only state that continues to employ them.

It's impossible to cordon off entire beaches – sea states are extremely powerful and would readily sweep the meshes away.

Instead, the shark nets are around 150m long and sit a few metres below the sea level. While fastened to the marine bed at points, they don't reach the bottom. So sharks can go above, beneath and around them.

"It's comparable to throwing a paper into the swimming area," Academic institution Academic Chris Pepin-Neff commented.

Local authorities states marine barriers are "not designed to create a full division between swimmers and predators" but alternatively aim to "intercept certain species" during any {hunts