Operators worried new shark movie might hurt Far North tourism

http://www.cairns.com.au/article/201...ocal-news.html



IT'S the stuff of nightmares: being stranded at sea after your boat has sunk and watching friends mauled and killed by a ravenous shark in front of your eyes.

This was the very real fate that befell two thirds of the crew onboard the New Venture, a trawler that sank 5km west of Broadhurst Reef, off the coast of Townsville, 27 years ago. There was only one survivor, skipper Ray Boundy, who was rescued on the swim to shore.


The tale seems tailor-made for a horror movie, so it should come as no surprise to find the sinking of the trawler was actually the inspiration behind The Reef, an Australian-made movie which opened in Cairns cinemas last Thursday.


Tourism operators are understandably worried about the effect the horror film, which bears the tagline “pray that you drown first”, will have on the Far North’s tourism industry. Director Andrew Traucki has assured there were far more dangerous things out there to worry about, such as cyclones.


It may be a difficult point to argue, following an attack on a female wakeboarder north of Newcastle last Wednesday, further adding fuel to the killer shark image.


But, realistically, just how dangerous are sharks in comparison to some of the other killers known to frequent our waters?
The Shark Institute of Australia, which manages a shark attack database, has recorded 295 attacks in Queensland since 1847.


That’s nearly two attacks a year since before Queensland was officially made a state. Of these incidents, 82 were fatal.


The number of fatalities is far, far less when it comes to crocodiles.


The Department of Environment and Resource Management officially recognises there have been seven fatal attacks by crocs in Queensland in the past 26 years. Unofficially, it is recognised there has been about one croc-related fatality a year throughout Australia.


The institute’s Dr Terry Peake said swimmers were far more likely to die in a car accident on the way to the beach than to fall prey to a shark or a crocodile.


“You've got more chance of being killed on the way to the beach than actually in the water,” Dr Peake said.


“There's been a lot of close calls but because people are a lot more aware now, they take a lot more precautions, which is a good.”


Marine stingers have caused no end of grief to Far North Queenslanders forcing swimmers into stinger enclosures and lycra suits during the high risk season, from November to May, each year.


The box jellyfish is regarded as the most venomous animal on the planet and has accounted for more than 60 deaths over the past 100 years. The much smaller irukandji jellyfish, about the size of a thumbnail, has only accounted for three reported deaths on the Great Barrier Reef.


Mackay-based jellyfish expert Dr Peter Fenner said there was more risk of swimmers being stung by jellyfish than being attacked by a shark.


“To get taken by a shark, you’ve really got to be in reasonably deep water,” Dr Fenner said. “Whereas, almost all of the deaths that have occurred from a box jellyfish have been actually at the beach – none of them swimming, all of them kind of up to their ankles and shoulders in the water, basically.”


It’s also worth noting Queensland has the highest rate of skin cancer in the world with about 133,000 cases diagnosed in the state each year, according to Cancer Council Queensland.


This means, unfortunately, you are far more likely to develop skin cancer while towelling off after a swim than becoming shark chow.


Surf Life Saving North Queensland lifeguard supervisor Jay March said it was important swimmers took note of warning signs at beaches, noting daily UV ratings,and only entering the water in supervised areas, such as stinger enclosures and between the flags.


“Swimming at the beach can be a safe experience as long as you follow the guidelines,” Mr March said.


“It’s as safe as we can make it,” he said.