Listen: Lucky Roland in conversation with shark scientist Dr Charlie Huveneers
So much speculation, so much conjecture.
2020 has seen a rise in shark interactions along the Eastern Seaboard and a corresponding rise in media interest too. Sharks are, once again, a talking point. Yet for all the discourse there are very few answers; the ratio of words to solutions remains frustratingly skewed, and the men in the grey suits remain as mysterious as ever.
Which is one reason why this conversation between podcaster Roland Davies - AKA Lucky Roland - and Dr Charlie Huveneers is worth a listen. The good doctor puts to bed a few of the recurring myths about sharks while cautiously offering hope for some solutions. Shark research is moving slowly, but it is moving. Listen to his thoughts on electric mitigation devices and new neoprenes for instance
Ol' Rols is an average punter so the language is layman. It's only 45 minutes long so click in for a listen.
Comments
WtF.....cage diving....they dont feed the sharks but occasionally they get the bait.....then he mentions the burley......what.....but they dont feed the sharks..?..but do everything except stuff food down there throats to attract them to humans?
tbb's theory got a mention :)
hello Swellnet forums :)
When he contacted me, Roland made no secret of reading them.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-10-07/surfer-matt-wilkinson-in-shark-ne...
That video shows just how automatic it is for them to approach from behind How many have sniffed our feet unseen over the years?
The interviewer's early goal seeking comment and superficial revelation is annoying: "assumption is that cage diving... ........ would lead to associating human with food. So that is completely unfounded"
Wow, "completely unfounded" - what a ridiculous black and white comment / summation that so often happens when people interview scientists about sharks - they goal seek the answer that suits the meme that everything is okay with cage diving, shark numbers etc. Later he goes on to say "break down the myth....." - again actively striving to create a predetermined message. When in practice most myths have an element of fact in their origin.
The scientist, to his credit, at least then went on to point out the nuances of the behavioural impact of cage diving (less than we may think and being managed but to my mind the official line underplays the real impact on behaviour) and made some interesting observations on shark deterrents (electric devices only 60% effective!) etc.
The interview improves and is definitely worth a listen as the scientist is broadly knowledgeable and fairly balanced. A take home point is that for all of us, in any shark topic discussion, is to be wary of over generalising and that shark behaviour can vary significantly from place to place and in different situations. This has positives - some places may be less dangerous that we may perceive but also negatives - as per Reunion Island.
I thought it was well worth a listen to. Also good to keep things in perspective - you're a LOT, LOT, LOT more likely to hurt yourself on your fins or the reef than from some shark encounter. Still, I think I'll keep the shark eyes on my boards.