Shark cull

[Bushmiller]

I'm sure I've read somewhere that sharks aren't keen on the taste of humans so I can go along with the statement that most attacks are a case of mistaken identity (I think Milo said that). Of course it is very unfortunate if you are one whose identity they mistook.

One of the statistic gurus can probably find some figures to say it is still more dangerous driving your car than swimming in the sea.

Regards
Paul

[doug3030]

One of the statistic gurus can probably find some figures to say it is still more dangerous driving your car than swimming in the sea

It has actually been proven that 79.67% of all published statistics have been made up and are not the result of any statistical analysis. With the posting of this message, that percentage just went up a fraction higher.

Cheers

Doug

[underfoot]

One of the statistic gurus can probably find some figures to say it is still more dangerous driving your car than swimming in the sea.
Regards
Paul

..Well that's easy..
..Australian road fatalities in 2012...1310 deaths
..Shark attack fatalities since 1791...228 deaths
( stats include 12 deaths from "provoked" attacks)
even our pollies couldn't spin those stats in their favour.

Anyways, everyone knows that 27.5% of white Australian male woodworkers don't believe in statistics

[A Duke]

And half the others don't know what statsawhatsits are.

[Poppa]

You should take the statistics on shark fatalities with a pinch of salt. There are a lot of folks who disappear every year in Australia and are never sighted again. Some of those are known to have disappeared while swimming (and there is probably a percentage of others whose last whereabouts were unknown who also went for a swim) - but if there is no evidence of a shark attack (eg. damaged remains) it cannot be recorded as a shark attack. So there are a large number of disappearances while swimming in the ocean that could well have been shark attacks that are not recorded as such. Of course I accept that there are other reasons why people may die while swimming in the ocean and their bodies never found.

[Bushmiller]

So there are a large number of disappearances while swimming in the ocean that could well have been shark attacks that are not recorded as such. Of course I accept that there are other reasons why people may die while swimming in the ocean and their bodies never found.

Poppa

Such as box jelly fish, Irucandji, stone fish, blue-ringed octopus, sea snakes and many other nasties lurking in the deep and the shallows. I think it would be a little unfair to lay the blame for unexplained disappearances (know and unknown) at the the shark's doorstep.

It seems to me a very telling phenomena that the families and friends of shark attack victims rarely want to seek retribution. Perhaps there is a tacit acknowledgement that we are invading their environment and not the other way around.

I guess the lesson is that you mess with the environment at your peril. I was most interested to hear Arthur's comment that where sharks had been eradicated, the squids have taken over.

Shades of Jules Verne there.

Regards
Paul

[Sebastiaan56]

There is a primal terror thing that happens with sharks. Remember Jaws? a bit like a twisted Moby dick story except with sharks. Its not rational, ask Bob Katter.

The brutal truth is that the bulk of the worlds large marine animals are now gone. Top level predators have their place in maintaining the eco system and the oceans will be reduced to Cambrian conditions in the next century or so. Jellyfish will rule. I dont know what people are worried about.

[pjt]

Poppa

Such as box jelly fish, Irucandji, stone fish, blue-ringed octopus, sea snakes and many other nasties lurking in the deep and the shallows. I think it would be a little unfair to lay the blame for unexplained disappearances (know and unknown) at the the shark's doorstep.

It seems to me a very telling phenomena that the families and friends of shark attack victims rarely want to seek retribution. Perhaps there is a tacit acknowledgement that we are invading their environment and not the other way around.

I guess the lesson is that you mess with the environment at your peril. I was most interested to hear Arthur's comment that where sharks had been eradicated, the squids have taken over.

Shades of Jules Verne there.

Regards
Paul

Yes, Art's story is like getting rid of the wolves from YellowStone and then as the Elk/Deer/Moose/Bison numbers rise they then overgraze all the grass/shrubs/trees (upto a certain height) and change the environment, with the reintroduction of the wolves the park is returning to as before as evidenced by leaf growth on the trees/shrubs down to the ground.
The animals and critters on this planet don't need us but we need them and too often we muck with the status quo and inflict our will on them to our combined detriment.



Pete

[Bushmiller]

The animals and critters on this planet don't need us but we need them and too often we muck with the status quo and inflict our will on them to our combined detriment.



Pete

Wow. Profound!

May I have your permission to trot that statement out at every available opportunity? Except, again with your permission, I would like to substitute a more forceful word for "muck." I suspect you were being diplomatic .

Regards
Paul

[pjt]

Wow. Profound!

May I have your permission to trot that statement out at every available opportunity? Except, again with your permission, I would like to substitute a more forceful word for "muck." I suspect you were being diplomatic .

Regards
Paul

As far as I can see you can trot that out anytime you like Paul with suitable "force " as you see fit. I can't claim the words to be solely mine tho, it was Paul Watson from the Sea Shepard on Adam Hills in Gordon St that said we need the animals, they don't need us for without them we wouldn't last too long.



Pete