Find a Fish
Dugong with Cookie-cutter Shark bites
In 1937 a beach meshing program was established off the surf beaches of Sydney, with the aim of reducing the risk of shark attack for surfers and swimmers.
Today the practice has caused controversy because the nets catch not only sharks, but also other marine animals including endangered species, while the risk of shark attack is now much lower than in the 1930s.
These images show a Dugong that was caught in a shark net off Queenscliff, Sydney, New South Wales in March 2006.
The wounds on the body of the Dugong are probably the result of Cookie-cutter Shark bites. Other animals including whales, dolphins and fishes are bitten by Cookie-cutter Sharks.
Related links
- Cookie-cutter Shark fact sheet
- What is the risk of shark attack in Sydney Harbour? (1mb pdf)
- Scientific Shark Protection Summit report
- Dugong information kit at GBRMPA
- Dugong page at Wikipedia
