Purpose
This guideline is an aid to recognising and reducing risks associated with sharks. It recognises the role of lifesaving services in managing an environment that sharks inhabit.
This guideline:
- Assists in identifying existing and potential health and safety issues;
- Raises the overall awareness of hazard identification and risk reduction; and
- Assists in establishing risk management procedures.
Policy
SLSNSW requires lifesaving services to follow the provided guidelines regarding shark sightings/incidents.
Procedure
For the purposes of this document the word shark is used in the broad sense to include all sharks. SLSNSW acknowledges that not all sharks are dangerous, with nearly all shark bites in NSW coastal waters being attributed to just three shark types. These include whaler sharks (including bull sharks), tiger sharks and great white sharks (also called white pointer or white shark).
Definitions
For the purposes of this Standard Operating Procedure the following definitions apply:
table(no border). | Shark Alarm | Where a civilian or lifesaving personnel have seen an object in the water and they believe it to be a shark. Action is taken to ensure public safety and to confirm the identity of the object. | | Shark Sighting | Where the presence of a shark has been confirmed. Usually as a result of a shark alarm. | | Shark Incident/Shark Bite | Death/injury caused by a marine animal (which is presumed to be a shark) or property damage where it is apparent that the damage has been caused by the same. | | Shark Net | Shark nets are 150m long nets that are set by contractors as part of the Shark Meshing (Bather Protection) Program managed by Fisheries NSW.
Note: Enclosed ‘shark netted’ swimming areas are managed by local councils or National Parks|
Risk Factors
Lifesaving services should be aware of the following risk factors to ensure a heightened sense of alertness and an appropriate level of response when these factors are present.
While sharks may be present at any time, the following factors may increase the risk of an encounter with a shark. These risk factors are:
- Twilight hours (dusk or dawn) and night. These are considered as times when sharks are typically more active;
- Salt water meets fresh water. Often this water is dirty, silt-laden or has debris in it (including river- mouths/estuaries/harbours);
- Deeply overcast conditions;
- Large amounts of fish schooling in the vicinity (seabirds diving is a good indicator of baitfish);
- The occurrence of a shark attack in the area in the recent past; and
- Swimming near steep drop offs and between sandbars.
Personal Safety
Some of the advice for safe swimming also applies to helping reduce the risk of incidents involving sharks and humans, and should be promoted to the public so they can take appropriate self-precautions:
- Always swim at a patrolled beach and between the red and yellow flags.
- Leave the water immediately if a shark is sighted.
- Leave the water if you hear a siren or a public address announcement. Do not enter the water if the beach is closed.
- Never swim or surf alone.
- Avoid swimming when it is dark or during the twilight hours (dusk or dawn) when sharks are most active and have a sensory advantage.
- Never swim or surf in dirty or murky waters.
- Do not swim or surf near schools of fish.
- Do not swim in canals, channels, near a river or creek mouth or drainage outlets or where fish are being cleaned.
- Do not swim near, or interfere with, shark nets.
- Steep drop offs are favoured shark ‘hangouts’.
- If you see a shark leave the water as quickly and calmly as possible.
Refer to Fisheries NSW Shark Smart public education program website and brochure.
Actions on Sightings
In the event of a confirmed shark sighting by Lifesaving Services near the patrolled area the following procedure should be enacted:
- Determine if patrolled area is to be closed and swimmers asked to evacuate the water (considering size of shark, proximity to swimmers, level of confirmation of sighting and conduct of shark).Note: Closure should be considered upon the following factors:
- Size of shark (greater than 2.5m)
- Identification of species (Bull, White or Tiger)
If closing the patrolled area:
- Activate the Emergency Evacuation Alarm (continuous tone);
- Inform everyone that the beach is being closed due to a shark sighting and strongly recommend they leave the water;
- Lower and remove red and yellow patrol flags and all other flags;
- Post ‘Swimming Not Advised’ signs at identified beach access points;
- Post ‘Shark’ hazard sign where patrolled area was located;
- Continually monitor all areas from an elevated position (i.e. tower) and through the use or power-craft and aerial assets (if available);
- Do not attempt to kill, capture or injure the animal;
- Contact SurfCom (or similar) and inform them of the shark sighting and status of patrolled area (i.e. closed);
- The patrolled area should remain closed until after a full search of the area has been completed and the Patrol Captain/Lifeguard is confident that there is no obvious risk to swimmers, surfers and other beach- users posed by the shark; and
- Complete Shark Report Form and forward to SLSNSW.
Actions in Event of Shark Incident/Bite
In the event of an apparent shark incident/bite, the following procedure should be undertaken:
- Recover and treat the patient as per normal procedures;
- Close the beach immediately as per above;
- SurfCom to contact the Branch Duty Officer and State Duty Officer (SDO) who will advise appropriate authorities (i.e. Fisheries NSW) to activate NSW Shark Attack Response Plan;
- Consider closing patrolled areas at adjacent beaches;
- Record as much detail regarding the incident as possible;
- Implement critical incident debriefing/peer support process;
- Consider deploying marker buoys at attack site(s) and last seen (victim & shark) locations;
- Consider securing a body retrieval kit.
State Duty Officer (SDO)
- Contact NSW DPI to advise.
- Contact all relevant Lifesaving Personnel via a SurfCom Incident Notification SMS.
- Ensure that the Rescue Coordinator at the relevant VKG Radio Communication Centre has been advised.
Media Liaison
The State Duty Officer will notify the SLSNSW Media Team. All media queries, releases and statements relating to shark attacks must be referred to SLSNSW Media Team or the delegated SLSNSW spokesperson.
Re-opening patrolled areas after a shark attack
The decision to re-open patrolled areas after a shark attack should be a decision made by the joint working group. This group comprises NSW DPI, SLSNSW, ALS and Council.
It is strongly recommended that the beach where the attack occurred should remain closed for at least 24 hours following an incident.
When deciding to re-open patrolled areas a risk management approach needs to be undertaken and all risk factors (as outlined above) need to be reviewed. If risk factors remain high, beaches should remain closed, and a Media ‘Beach Safety Warning’ issued.
Consultation
This Standard Operating Procedure was developed in consultation with the NSW Department of Primary Industries.
Reference
Emergency Beach Closure
Media Guide
Critical Incident Debriefing
Fisheries NSW Shark Smart Public Education Program