Squiz Shortcuts: A shark attack spike

A recent spate of shark attacks has restarted the national conversation around the apex predators we share the ocean with when we go for a swim… In NSW in particular - where 4 attacks have happened in the past week - experts say recent rain, murky water and warmer seas are creating ideal conditions for bull sharks, and authorities are warning people to stay out of the water until it clears… This is a recurring topic for Australians - Claire and Kate did a Shortcut on it 5 years ago - so we thought it was a good time to play that again for you. In the ep, they look at our history of shark attacks, why they seem to be becoming more prevalent, and what we can do to prevent them… 

Squiz recommends:

Reading: One thing that’s come up a lot in coverage of the shark attacks over the past week has been the rising number of bull sharks off NSW beaches and in Sydney Harbour in particular. If you’re interested in some further reading on that, The Conversation has published a helpful article that delves into some of the reasons behind it. 

Reading: And Kate has recommended a piece that discusses how Aussies, as a nation of beach-lovers, can manage the risk posed by sharks without giving up swimming in the ocean - that’s by Andre Slade in Ocean Swims.…

Send us your questions: Our next episode of Ask the Squiz is out next Thursday. If you’ve got a question about the news that you’d like Claire and Andrew to tackle, email us at hello@thesquiz.com.au or drop us a voice note here and you might hear yourself on the pod.

Squiz Shortcuts is your back story to the big news stories…

Want the email version? Sign up for the Shortcuts newsletter here.