NSW Weighs Bull Shark Cull After Coogee Attack as Studies Question Killing 4,668 Sharks
Updated
Updated · The Conversation · Jun 15
NSW Weighs Bull Shark Cull After Coogee Attack as Studies Question Killing 4,668 Sharks
3 articles · Updated · The Conversation · Jun 15
Summary
Chris Minns said New South Wales is actively considering a bull shark cull after 35-year-old Leah Stewart was bitten at Coogee Beach while swimming about 30 metres offshore on Saturday.
Research cited in the report says shark bites have risen in Australia over four decades, but the increase is likely driven by multiple factors—not simply an explosion in shark numbers.
Evidence on culling is mixed, and one Hawaii program killed 4,668 tiger sharks in the 1960s and 1970s without reducing bite rates; the number needed to cut risk remains unknown.
Non-lethal measures such as drones, SMART drumlines and shark listening stations have stronger support, while personal deterrents can cut bite risk by about 60%.
The report argues NSW should prioritize layered mitigation and education over broad culls, citing ecosystem harm and limited proof that killing sharks improves public safety.