I wrote a piece for the Spectator last September in the wake of the fatal shark attack on Sydney Northern Beaches surfer Mercury Psilakis. Mr Psilakis was a popular member of the beachside community, tragically mauled by a shark whilst surfing.

I made the point that shark numbers are on the increase, including large species of sharks that attack humans and that there will be more human shark encounters as a result of fisheries’ management, a ban on culling and finning and greater numbers of people using the ocean as coastal populations surge. I also outlined my derision for people who make heartless and unthinking comments about sharks being the natural masters of the ocean and who suggest that those who swim or surf are somehow to blame or should take being killed by a shark with a fatalistic shrug of the shoulders. I won’t repeat the points made in that piece and, if interested, you can read it for yourself.

There were three shark attacks in two days this week on 18 and 19 January. One in Vaucluse, one in Manly, and one in Dee Why. The fate of the young teen mauled in Vaucluse and the Manly victim is unknown. Both are in a serious condition and have suffered life-altering injuries at best. The young Dee Why surfer thankfully survived the encounter.

This is no coincidence but likely the consequence of murky warm water from recent rains and run-off, a proliferation of bait fish and other natural triggers that cause sharks to predate. However, it also shows an increased tendency of sharks to attack humans.

I’m a lawyer not a marine biologist but I’ve spent 50 years on the ocean, fishing, surfing spear fishing, ocean swimming, paddling and boating. I’m a long-service member of one of Australia’s largest surf lifesaving clubs and its former President. I’ve worked in a fish market and I’m a life member of an amateur fishing club and have spent a huge amount of time on the water and with other fisherfolk and watermen and women. I’ve also fished all over Australia and throughout the Pacific and in this time, I have caught many sharks (all released) and seen countless sharks. I can categorically state that in the last five years I have seen more large sharks than ever despite spending less time on the water than I did when younger. I reject entirely the self- serving narrative from so called experts who claim shark numbers are lower than they were and that Great Whites are ‘vulnerable’ to extinction. This is a demonstrably ridiculous view and any experienced waterperson and fisherfolk will say the same. Policies of reducing shark fishing and culling and other environmental factors is, in my opinion, mostly responsible for the proliferation of sharks.

Several significant recreational Australian fisheries such as Hervey Bay, Moreton Bay, Lord Howe Island, and Cape York have been destroyed by shark depredation as sharks follow fishing boats around and take fish off the line when hooked. My favourite fishery of Cape York has been ruined as a fish can’t now be landed without being savaged by a shark at the boat. This experience has also occurred in other locations around the world. The cost to tourism and recreational fishing from this is enormous. I’ve seen only a couple of research vessels in the Far North Queensland waters I have fished for 30 years observing this behaviour and believe a lot of so- called experts must be undertaking desk top research only.

The thing with sharks, is that along with crocodiles, which also eat humans albeit less frequently, are the oldest living apex predators and have survived millions of years of evolution, They have survived because of their fecundity, adaptability, instinct and a recent tendency of environmentalist fisheries policies helping to ensure they can proliferate.

Sharks can adapt their diet and predation habits very quickly. Whereas 20 years ago in the fisheries I mentioned, sharks were wary of boats and would keep their distance, they now associate fishing boats with an easy meal and will trail boats all day waiting for the anglers to hook an easy meal.

If greater active risk mitigation steps are not taken and shark numbers not responsibly reduced, many more people will be mauled and killed whilst swimming and surfing in high population areas. This is a near certainty. The obvious measures include nets, drum lines, drone monitoring and better public warnings when conditions are conducive to attack as we have had this last week. This won’t be enough. We want to keep pouring millions of Australians into coastal cities and towns, more human/shark encounters will occur. This will give rise to a vicious cycle of higher attack numbers as sharks become more accustomed to seeing humans in the ocean and be more comfortable in preying on humans. The idea that this is the law of nature elevates sharks to human equivalence.

Shark numbers need to be reduced and humans will need to be associated with danger not food. This will change shark habits but will require some time and will need a sensible culling program to be implemented in areas where sharks are known to congregate and attack humans.

Governments ban late-night drinking and nightclubs due to a small number of sad and tragic assaults; enact strict gun laws, regulate boating and other recreations, but seem very slow to want to protect us from sharks. Governments also need to properly look at the shark attack statistics and trends and listen to real world experts who can authoritatively speak to shark numbers based on day-to-day observational experience.

Andrew Christopher is a lawyer and writer