The fourth hit on a surfer by a Great White in two months.
Pretty little Shelly Beach, in pretty Port Macquarie, two-foot waves smoothed by an offshore, sun well above the horizon, a little pack on a bank thirty metres from the beach.
Ten-foot reat White hits thirty-five-year-old woman Chantelle Doyle.
Husband Mark Rapley surfing nearby jumps on the shark and belts it until it releases its grip.
A wild story, but not entirely unfamiliar, the fourth hit on a surfer by a Great White in two months.
Read here, here, here, ponder the ethics of roughing up Great Whites here and debate what the tipping point might be before government decides enough is enough, here.
In all instances, other surfers tried to fight off the White.
Two deaths could’ve been four.
In an interview with Australia’s Sunday Telegraph, Mark Rapley was prosaic, “The shark was latched on to her leg. I just jumped into the water. I did what anyone would have done in that moment.”
Another witness Jed Toohey said,
“It was unbelievable, the scream was incredible and there was splashing everywhere. Mark, her partner, got her up on the board. Mark was a hero. He started laying into the shark because it wouldn’t let go. He saved her life. He got off his board and started punching the shark. If he hadn’t put his own life at risk, it would have been strong enough to take her out to sea.”
Advice from Surf Life Saving NSW was, as it usually is in these cases, pointless and contradictory.
“Everyone has to accept we enter the domain of any sea creatures. We have to be shark smart. Realistically we shouldn’t be surfing at dusk or at dawn. But most attacks we’ve seen this year have been at all times of the day, so it’s difficult,” said chief executive officer Steven Pearce.
Yeah.
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I’m guessing there will be a few more additional “steak and blowjob days” added to the calendar after all that.
Guessing by this they’ve been married for less than 5 years. Give it some more time, buddy, and you’ll paddle the other way.
dude, you owe me the Arnold Palmer I just spilled laughing.
What’s the punishment for intentionally killing a great white? Real question asking for a friend
I’m not sure where you’re based, FT, but here is section 211 of Australia’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth) (in practice it probably would mean a slap on the wrist for the first offence but you would be charged and go to court, etc):
Killing or injuring member of listed migratory species
(1) A person commits an offence if:
(a) the person takes an action; and
(b) the action results in the death or injury of a member of a species; and
(c) the member is a member of a listed migratory species [great whites are listed]; and
(d) the member is in or on a Commonwealth area.
Penalty:
(a) in the case of an aggravated offence–imprisonment for 2 years or 3,000 penalty units [$660,000 in 2020], or both;
(b) in any other case–imprisonment for 2 years or 1,000 penalty units [$222,000 in 2020], or both.
Note 1: For the extra element of an aggravated offence, see section 211F.
Note 2: This section does not apply in the circumstances described in section 212. A defendant bears an evidential burden in relation to those circumstances. See subsection 13.3(3) of the Criminal Code .
(2) Strict liability applies to paragraphs (1)(c) and (d).
Note: For strict liability , see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code .
Thanks for the info unfortunately I’m a seppo so I’m sure that our laws are different. Here’s a thought though. I’m sure there are a lot of competent fisherman who could think of their “slap on the wrist” as a shark tag. Take one each so to speak.
Here’s the US version. It’s not as harsh but it’s not like a parking ticket for overstaying at a San Diego carpark on a pumping day. The drafting is crap, like all US laws, but that’s a different problem altogether.
PENALTIES AND ENFORCEMENT
SEC. 11. (a) CIVIL PENALTIES.— (1) Any person who knowingly violates, and any
person engaged in business as an importer or exporter of fish, wildlife, or plants
who violates, any provision of this Act, or any provision of any permit or certificate
issued hereunder, or of any regulation issued in order to implement subsection
(a)(1)(A), (B), (C), (D), (E), or (F), (a)(2)(A), (B), (C), or (D), (c), (d) (other than regulation relating to recordkeeping or filing of reports), (f) or (g) of section 9 of this Act,
may be assessed a civil penalty by the Secretary of not more than $ 25,000 for each
violation. Any person who knowingly violates, and any person engaged in business
as an importer or exporter of fish, wildlife, or plants who violates, any provision of
any other regulation issued under this Act may be assessed a civil penalty by the
Secretary of not more than $ 12,000 for each such violation. Any person who otherwise violates any provision of this Act, or any regulation, permit, or certificate issued hereunder, may be assessed a civil penalty by the Secretary of not more than $
500 for each such violation. No penalty may be assessed under this subsection unless
such person is given notice and opportunity for a hearing with respect to such violation. Each violation shall be a separate offense. Any such civil penalty may be remitted or mitigated by the Secretary. Upon any failure to pay a penalty assessed under
this subsection, the Secretary may request the Attorney General to institute a civil
action in a district court of the United States for any district in which such person is
found, resides, or transacts business to collect the penalty and such court shall have
jurisdiction to hear and decide any such action. The court shall hear such action on
the record made before the Secretary and shall sustain his action if it is supported
by substantial evidence on the record considered as a whole.
(2) Hearings held during proceedings for the assessment of civil penalties authorized by paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be conducted in accordance with section 554 of title 5, United States Code. The Secretary may issue subpoenas for the
attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of relevant papers, books,
and documents, and administer oaths. Witnesses summoned shall be paid the same
fees and mileage that are paid to witnesses in the courts of the United States. In
case of contumacy or refusal to obey a subpoena served upon any person pursuant
to this paragraph, the district court of the United States for any district in which
such person is found or resides or transacts business, upon application by the United
States and after notice to such person, shall have jurisdiction to issue an order requiring such person to appear and give testimony before the Secretary or to appear
and produce documents before the Secretary, or both, and any failure to obey such
order of the court may be punished by such court as a contempt thereof.
(3) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, no civil penalty shall be imposed if it can be shown by a preponderance of the evidence that the defendant
committed an act based on a good faith belief that he was acting to protect himself
or herself, a member of his or her family, or any other individual from bodily harm,
from any endangered or threatened species.
(b) CRIMINAL VIOLATIONS.—(1) Any person who knowingly violates any provision
of this Act, of any permit or certificate issued hereunder, or of any regulation issued
in order to implement subsection (a)(1)(A), (B), (C), (D), (E), or (F); (a)(2)(A), (B),
(C), or (D), (c), (d) (other than a regulation relating to recordkeeping, or filing of
reports), (f), or (g) of section 9 of this Act shall, upon conviction, be fined not more
than $ 50,000 or imprisoned for not more than one year, or both. Any person who
knowingly violates any provision of any other regulation issued under this Act shall,
upon conviction, be fined not more than $ 25,000 or imprisoned for not more than six
months, or both.
(2) The head of any Federal agency which has issued a lease, license, permit, or
other agreement authorizing a person to import or export fish, wildlife, or plants, or
to operate a quarantine station for imported wildlife, or authorizing the use of Federal lands, including grazing of domestic livestock, to any person who is convicted of
a criminal violation of this Act or any regulation, permit, or certificate issued hereunder may immediately modify, suspend, or revoke each lease, license, permit, or
other agreement. The Secretary shall also suspend for a period of up to one year, or
cancel, any Federal hunting or fishing permits or stamps issued to any person who
is convicted of a criminal violation of any provision of this Act or any regulation,
permit, or certificate issued hereunder. The United States shall not be liable for the
payments of any compensation, reimbursement, or damages in connection with the
modification, suspension, or revocation of any leases, licenses, permits, stamps, or
other agreements pursuant to this section.
(3) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, it shall be a defense to prosecution under this subsection if the defendant committed the offense based on a good
faith belief that he was acting to protect himself or herself, a member of his or her
family, or any other individual, from bodily harm from any endangered or threatened
species.
Seems that at least after an attack occurs a go fund me could allow someone to take care of the problem shark without too much fear of massive reprocussions. It’s a start anyways and you can believe it would get people riled up and get the conversation started.
Just wondering why Surfing Australia doesn’t get involved or have a say in these situations . Surely they should be representing all surfers ( not just those who compete ) ? I can’t imagine a political power like Netball Australia not becoming involved if Netballers were being attacked on outdoor courts by some type of 100kg carnivorous marsupial ? ( Thylacoleo (“pouch lion”) lived until quite recently 46000 BC and weighed between 100 to 130 kg )
The clubbies do a great job but their role has always been to protect swimmers in the flags and not surfers in winter at non patrolled beaches from sharks .
That’s a really good call. I’m sure any other sport that involved a reasonable chance of getting eaten would see some lobbying from the governing body. If the NRL can lobby Gladys to drop a billion on some new stadiums, surely surfing Australia can get the government to fund some targeted fishing.
Yes , if all the people who I saw in the water during the lockdown , made this an important issue in the next local , state and federal elections , real progress concerning this issue may occur .
Otherwise we may have to do it on our own and steal the slogan from the Bikers ,(who didn’t want to wear helmets)
LET THOSE WHO RIDE DECIDE !
100% Bicko. This complicated case (and there are so so many) calls for my soon to be patented “Australia’s Unholy Alliance Party” or AUAP, or simply UAP. Essentially the party will balance out the radicalism at either end of the political divide ensuring a better, cleaner, greener and also prosperous nation. Basically an unholy alliance of the greens and Nationals… UAP’s only issue, finding enough non maniacs to vote for it!
In other words the green faction of AUAP would oppose any killing of innocent cuddly sea demons, but would also see actual humans dying or being minced as less than ideal. The Nat faction would conjure up some Vic Hislop esque psychopaths, but then tame it down a bit and realise majestic things that sometimes come after us humans maybe don’t all have to go.
Ahh, the middle ground. Cruel jokes about being reasonable and wanting a democracy to proud of will not hurt us, mainly because the Nat faction will fucken shoot ya!
They could probably fund some electrified smart drum lines by dropping edits of footage of the sharks coming up to the bait only to get zapped straight in the ampullae.
The answer to that is pretty straightforward: Surfing Australia lives off taxpayer money (the only money left in surfing at the moment) and the issue is a political hot potato. By all means, Surfing Australia (and their state equivalents) should get involved to protect surfers. But by doing that they would ostracise a large part of their own members – even in this forum lots of people oppose culling, for instance – and risk having powerful enemies who work to end the gravy train they are on. Does anyone know how much Surfing Australia’s CEO make? I heard it was over $400K/year.
Maybe not all surfers want to be represented by a club.
That’s why they don’t belong to them.
Surfing is about interacting with nature, if nature bothers you than stick to the netball court where it is safe for you
Surfing is probably safer than Netball ….those girls are hardcore……anyway I , like you , CK , am nature …..surfers are nature , both competitive and non competitive ( though as we know all surfing is competitive unless you surf every single session in complete solitude , devoid of other surfers and don’t catch a wave ) sharks are nature , netballers are nature too ….all life is one …..
Ok, surfing takes place in the ocean. If the ocean is too scary for you than you don’t belong there. Netball takes place in a controlled environment. It seems that is what you are seeking in surfing. Maybe you have gotten too used to the European nanny state mentality.
I‘m am happy to see your aggressive nature has not been curbed by the loss of a T . Ck ( t) .
I surfed largely alone for 20 years in France and even more recently in lock dow Sydney ( well at least for 20 minutes ) . No . I don’t want it to be a wave Pool , but I also would prefer if my fellow surfers were not butchered in seemimgly increasing numbers while partaking in the joy of surfing . No Shark Genocide but a middle path where both parties can enjoy their shared environment together or ever so slightly apart …. the Ocean ?
Ha ha. I think I have actually mellowed a bit. I do love you though James.
You inspired me to stay in Hawaii and that’s a big thing.
It would be nice to feel safer in the ocean. But I don’t think that is possible to limit the white sharks by taking a middle path approach. They are constantly traveling and don’t hang around anywhere for too long. How could we know if it is safe or not? There is very little scientific knowledge concerning their behavior. Only by decimating the numbers will be safe and that has proven to be the wrong approach already. I think accepting them as being there is the only realistic choice. Hope you get in the water soon James
Thanks CK . Catch a big one for me brother … a wave that is .
Drop Bears are real. They just don’t leave any remains behind to be discovered.
Fact.
And don’t mention the Yowies !
Don’t the best of them bleed it out
While the rest of them peter out?
Truth or consequence, say it aloud
Use that evidence, race it around
There goes my hero
Watch him as he goes
There goes my hero
He’s ordinary
Kudos, my hero, leavin’ all the mess
You know my hero, Mark!
On the fckin sharks back
punching the fck out of the cnt !!! ^ – ^
Lyrics credit… David Eric Grohl / Nate Mendel / Pat Smear / feat Tom Toraja
Thank you Tom, I had a much needed crywank in the shower to your thoughtful and topical lyrics.
Please create a playlist as i would subscribe totally..
Yes thank you Tom. I’d rather be bitten by a shark than have that song in my head.
Okay thanks for the kind words Yeah… Understand completely.. do U love Dave Grohl as much as is possible to love a man… ? I do..
Foo Fighters suck a bag of dicks. Like Bubble gum anthem rock for preteens.
Hahahaha
Hmmmm think u missed the point
Am biased .. hung out for a couple of days with Hawkins, Chris Shifllet ,Rami Jafee and Andrew Oldham on the Gold coast .. went surfing with Hawkins..was on stage for the Chevy Metal gig. All great guys.. https://uploads.disquscdn.c… gig..https://uploads.disquscdn.com/image… https://uploads.disquscdn.c… https://uploads.disquscdn.c… https://uploads.disquscdn.c… https://uploads.disquscdn.c…
And painfully, obviously never been to a FF gig. if anything more like a dads band..
Pre teens..? Na.. :))))))
Never trust a hippy… https://uploads.disquscdn.c…
Marks a legend, aint love grand.
We are in the sharks territory?? It’s ours too fuckwads. Wtf is going on here. I’m kind of sick of the fantasy. Fuck that. They go to marine biology school, name a shark Freddy and all of a sudden a thing that looks like Freddy Kruger has feelings and a purpose. Fish them out a bit. And let’s take out the sting rays too
We’ve done fairly well without the dodo bird…..
As far as i know Dodos also didnt get around snacking on cunts like a doberman thats been head butting chalk for a week straigtht..
Yep lets see if they like a bit of roughing up – kill a couple and hang em as scarecrows along the north coast and or few replica dummies of people with big electric charge thru em to shock the shit out and maybe (maybe not) kill
one nearby here, the news isn’t reporting, but the fisherman say she was tore in half, never had a chance to get back to land, it lifted her clear out of the water like a discovery channel video. but we name em, so they take on human feelings now.. and there actions are described in human terms, then we protect them.. they are the T-Rex of the ocean.
And we all forget they’re stupid FISH. We kill pigs (a species that is more intelligent than dogs) but we’re all too scared of killing big mullets with sharp teeth. It’s insane.
Yep , If all life started in the ocean then it is definitely our territory too .
It’s not about whose “territory” it is. It’s about maintaining a balanced ecosystem. Do you understand the importance of that? You need to spend more time in the ocean
Yes … I am a great believer in the goddess of balance .. Nemesis be her name .
What is your purpose?
I will probably go to the grave without truly knowing. Ignorance gives me a bit of bliss in life, but so far; protect my kids, help my parents and family, take care of my staff who take care of me, travel, and be the most selfish species on earth.. a surfer.
I think the sharks have a similar purpose
Yes, yes let’s just jump right in there and stop the 1/2mill dollar life insurance policy!? Off your f noodle. Sharks have to eat!