“Swimming With Young Hammerhead Sharks in Surfers Paradise: A Tragic Discovery Ignites Debate on Shark Safety Measures”

With its subtropical climate, more than 30 beaches and access to high waves, the Australian metropolis Gold Coast is nicknamed “Surfers Paradise”.

On April 15, 14-time Australian freediving record holder Amber Bourke headed to one of the most popular beaches in the area, Burleigh Heads.

The choice of beach was anything but random.

– There are many young hammerhead sharks that gather on the ground at Burleigh Heads. We went into the water specifically to swim with them, Bourke tells Dagbladet.

– I found that if I stayed calm on the surface, they would swim right under me.

Don’t be afraid of sharks

As a long-time professional freediver and certified diving instructor, Bourke has spent a lot of time along the Australian coast. She therefore has a good relationship with life in the sea, including sharks.

– I have been freediving for over 10 years and have never had a negative experience diving with a shark. They are just part of being in the sea, says Amber Bourke to Dagbladet.

As she lay there on the surface, she saw several small hammerhead sharks swimming calmly below her in the crystal clear water. Carefully she took out her camera and started taking pictures.

– They didn’t seem to be bothered by our presence, she recalls.

Grim discovery

Bourke took several great photos. But the undisputed favorite was when she managed to snap three young hammerhead sharks at the same time.

She decided to share it on Instagram later that day. But when she looked more closely at the picture, she discovered a tragic detail:

One of the hammerhead sharks had a fishing line trailing behind it.

– I noticed the hook when I edited the picture later that day. I was shocked and saddened to see it.

The discovery put a hard damper on the experience of having seen a hammerhead shark with one’s own eyes for the very first time.

– It all made me wonder about the future of the young shark.

Up from the depths: – A nightmare

Painful

The photo that Amber shared on her Instagram account was to find its way to Australian and eventually international media. One of those who saw the photo was Fredrik Myhre, marine biologist and head of the WWF World Wildlife Fund.

– This is another hammerhead shark that has bitten on a fishing hook, but managed to break free because the fishing line broke, says Myhre in a comment to Dagbladet.

– Unfortunately, the hook has become stuck and part of the fishing line is now dragging behind it when it swims.

– What consequences do you see for this hammerhead shark?

– Fortunately, some of these fish hooks fall out of the shark’s mouth by themselves as they rust. But it is clear that it is painful for a shark to swim around with a hook in its mouth.

He explains that a number of sharks are seriously injured in their attempts to break free from fishing gear.

“Sometimes the fishing line also wraps around the shark’s body, which can lead to both injury and, in the worst case, death,” says Myhre.

This hides below the sea surface along the Norwegian coast

Want ban

In an interview with Yahoo News Australia, environmental scientist Paula Muscat says that many hammerhead sharks will die in shark nets placed along Australia’s coast. These nets are set up as a safety measure and to prevent sharks from establishing themselves on beaches.

Muscat gets full support from Myhre. He explains that everything from endangered shark species to dolphins, whales and sea turtles get stuck and drown in such shark nets.

– It is also the case that a large proportion of the animals are caught on the inside of the nets on their way out from the beach. This also applies to sharks, Myhre points out before continuing:

– In other words, the shark nets are both really harmful to the marine wildlife and ineffective in preventing sharks from approaching beaches. Shark nets should be banned from use.

Everything is in place for the great white shark to come to Norway

Respect and caution

For many who dive or snorkel, experiencing sharks in their natural habitat is extra exciting.

Myhre, who himself has come close to sharks countless times, fully understands that divers actively seek out places where there are sharks.

– Sharks are without a doubt one of the most fascinating creatures in the sea, he says to Dagbladet.

– When diving with sharks, it is important to remember that these are wild, often large, predators, and that you should treat them both with respect and caution.

He reminds us that when exploring different parts of nature, we should remember that we humans are guests in other animals’ habitats.

– We must be there on the animals’ terms. This also applies to shark diving, says Myhre.