This will probably only be interesting to South Aussies, but there is a proposal for alternate shark cage diving sites. Ever since a great white shark was attacked by some killer whales (orcas) at the Neptune Islands in February, no great whites have been spotted. Diddums - poor old shark got a fright 
Anyway, the shark cage diving industry is hurting and wants permission to try some new sites. I have nothing against shark cage diving, but several of the sites suggested, in particular the islands of the Sir Joseph Banks Group are popular sailing destinations. IMO, encouraging sharks to come inshore, whether for fishing or cage diving, is reckless and will serve only to increase the risk of shark attacks. Last year I was anchored off Wedge Island with half a dozen other yachties and some clown was chumming for sharks just down the beach.
Sharks belong offshore and shark cage diving should be limited to more remote locations only, such as the Neptunes and The Pages. The latter has the merit of being (partially) in a marine park and effectively already off limits.
More info: http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/Home/Full_newsevents_listing/News_Events_Listing/150402-shark-cage-diving-alternative-sites
Shark Cage, Shark Cage, Shark Cage, what's a Shark Cage? Is that where they teach Sharks that Boat + Humans = Food
Select to expand quoteCrusoe said..
Shark Cage, Shark Cage, Shark Cage, what's a Shark Cage? Is that where they teach Sharks that Boat + Humans = Food
Exactly! We hardly need to be training sharks to love humans. I'd much prefer it they ran away whenever they see a person, which is way I use a Shark Shield when I dive
If you're interested in learning more, I've made a submission and also posted it to my blog:
blog.arribasail.com/2015/04/shark-cage-diving-sites-submission.html
The operators sited a shark last week at South neptunes. The sharks visit most places not just neptunes. In the old days all the shark cage diving was done at dangerous reef .....pretty much anywhere seals are slicking there smell and sounds into the waters its possible a GWS could be present. March and April has been previously quiet for sharks before the winter when the bigger females arrive.
it was bad luck in a way that the orcas killed a shark and left the Mercury bleeding slick.....most likely most sharks avoided the area hence the reason the operators where searching for a new location to keep there pre booked customers happy.
Hey, perhaps orcas can become a tourist attraction, just like they are in the San Juan Islands
Frankly, I'm not too bothered by the prospect of seals and sea lions attracting sharks. That's natural enough, and sharks have every right to be there.
I am bothered by the prospect of shark cage operators deliberately enticing sharks in larger numbers to areas that are frequented by boaties or beachgoers. For example, Price Island and Williams Island are both less than 2km from shore.
There are dozens of offshore islands the shark cage operators can use, without using the islands of the Lower Spencer Gulf, such as the Sir Joseph Banks Group.
In the early sixties I was spearfishing off White rock at Point Bolingbroke with some mates and had an encounter with a bronze whaler. Ended up sitting on a rock for awhile. Few weeks later I joined the navy and soon after a young mother was bitten in half by a white pointer in the same place. It turms out that a Port Lincoln sports fishing club had been burleying the area heavily for a few days earlier in preparation of a competition. The shark cage operators are a recent thing.
Friend of mine there is very active in the anti cage operator league and I get stuff from him on Facebook regularly.
In SA it is supposedly illegal to burley for sharks, i.e., use blood, bone, meat or offal, within 2 nautical miles of land. That said, it is seldom enforced. I've seen fisherman burley for sharks right off the beach at places such as Wedge Island, where they can get away with it without being caught.
Yes, it seems there is a lot of opposition to expanding shark cage diving. For example, RecFish SA the body representing recreational fishers in SA is completely opposed.
