“My Brother’s Life Was Way More Important Than Any Shark” Family Of Mercury Psillakis Slams Anti-Shark Net activists

"In the war of the nets, it is time for all governments to put the protection of people first.”

It might be hard for the reader, particularly the majority who swing from the US, to keep up with the epidemic of Great White attacks in Australia: do you mean yesterday’s hit by a Great White in Margs, the hit at Kangaroo Island in October, the disappearance via Great White of Lance Appleby in South Oz, the twelve-footer that attacked a mid-length pilot at Cabarita in August, Steve Payne, six months into a round-Australia trip with his gal and dog, killed in waist-deep blue water in Esperance in March? 

In this instance, it’s Mercury Psillakis, brother of the noted Australian shaper Mike Psillakis, who was killed by a Great White shark surfing his local there just north of Dee Why Point, on a pretty spring Saturday afternoon, the eve of Father’s Day.

It was the sort of Great White attack that has become a grim feature of Australian beaches. And it came just as the human-life-is-equivalent-to-animal-life set, usually inner-city dwellers who live in a utopia where meat magically appears in pretty recycled packaging, free of any animal suffering and pain, and enemies of the state are a figment of right-wing imaginations, were about to succeed in their quest to have shark nets removed from NSW beaches. 

In response to the attack, the NSW government hit pause on a plan to remove shark attacks from three Sydney beaches. Long Reef, where Mercury Psillakis died, is partially covered by nets, SMART drumlines and occasional drone patrols.

Unlike southern California, where the Great White appears to co-exist in harmony with surfers and swimmers, the relationship is anything but benign in Australian waters, north, east, south and west.

RIP, Zac, Paul Tadashi, Rob, Mani, Mark, Tim, Simon, Nick, Cameron, Jevon, Paul, Nick, Jarrod, Peter, Sam, Simon, Tod, Khai, Lance, Ken, Bradley, Geoffrey, Brian, Nicholas, Kyle, Bryn, George, Peter, Ben, Chris, Jay, Ben, Doreen, Laeticia, Gary, Andrew, Paul, Steven and, now, Mercury.

Over at Facebook, a debate has raged over nets and the notion of human life being valued more or less than animals. On the Ballina Shark Reports was a compelling piece quoting environmentalists who do see the effectiveness of shark notes.

In the wake of the recent fatal shark attack at Dee Why, Professor Graeme Stewart, of Sydney University, wrote an article on the efficacy of shark nets, in which he lays out historical, as well as recent data proving that shark nets actually do work. He wanted to push back against what he describes as a “well orchestrated war against shark nets in NSW”.

The professor’s article was subsequently endorsed by renowned environmentalist John Dengate, of Burke’s Backyard fame. In his letter to the editor, Dengate says that; “It concerns me that nets are a blunt instrument that catches other sea creatures as well as sharks. But it also concerns me that people are killed by sharks.” This sentiment echoes Professor Stewart’s explanation that: “I have long admired much of the achievements of environmental activists, but not when it puts human life at risk. In the war of the nets, it is time for all governments to put the protection of people first.”

These esteemed gentlemen have also sought an audience with the Minister to discuss the need for shark nets, not just for the currently netted Metropolitan coastlines, but for the whole of NSW.

To which a Leona Lees replied,

Honestly thought this was a spoof post and was gaily reading along waiting for the joke. You feel remorse for ‘non target creatures’ what on earth? Human trauma is more important. What a horrible stance to take that your life is more important than some animals. You know you are more likely to get killed on the motorway whilst going to the beach, than be killed by a shark!?

1 fatal shark death in NSW v 366 road deaths in this year so far. Yep totally justified to put a sea creature killing net around the states coastline.

Why not invest the money used for netting on smarter tech like drones and clever buoys? Why are humans so important that we can just kill other creatures just in case we get hurt?

Much back and forthing, agree, disagree, but the most poignant came from Mike Psillakis, who knows what it’s like, to have someone real close to you die, in the most horrific manner imaginable, in the mouth of a Great White.

Mike replied, “My brother’s life was way more important than any shark.”

And, yesterday, Mercury’s widow, Maria, spoke of her desire to use Merc’s death to ensure it don’t happen again.

“Not half an hour later there were children, people, swimming,” said Maria.