Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.AllNewsSportCultureLifestyleA young mother was bitten by a shark at Coogee Beach, Sydney, leading to renewed calls for a shark cull from figures including Tony Abbott and NSW Premier Chris Minns. Shark bites have increased in Australia and globally over the past four decades, but many shark species are threatened, and the rise is attributed to a combination of factors rather than just an explosion in shark numbers. Research on the effectiveness of shark culling is mixed, with some studies indicating no change in bite rates even after extensive culling programmes, such as one in Hawaii that killed thousands of sharks. Culling is controversial and can harm non-dangerous sharks and other marine life, with methods like shark nets offering little evidence of keeping people safe. Non-lethal measures, including drone surveillance, SMART drumlines, and personal deterrents, are shown to reduce shark-bite risk and are preferred by the public, offering a more effective and ethical approach. In fullAs attacks increase, do shark culls work? Here’s what the science saysThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in

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Calls to cull sharks are growing louder after a woman was critically injured by a shark at one of Australia's best-known beaches.

Experts say animal was likely a white shark rarely seen at Coogee – different from the bull shark attacks in NSW over the summer

Coogee Beach and others in the city's Randwick Council area closed for 24 hours following attack

From drones, to smart drumlines and personal devices that deter attacks, we have better ways to keep swimmers and surfers safer, but we need to deploy them.

From drones, to smart drumlines and personal devices that deter attacks, we have better ways to keep swimmers and surfers safer, but we need to deploy them.

The government is looking to rewrite the rulebook on safety measures in the wake of the Coogee Beach shark attack.

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A shark attack at a popular Sydney beach has sparked demands for a cull of the predators.

Saturday's attack was the latest in a series of shark encounters off Australian beaches. The week before, a man died after being attacked by a shark while fishing off the coast…

Authorities increase patrols, deploy drones as Coogee beach reopens

An alert system using autonomous drones to detect sharks off Sydney beaches could be in place by summer, scientists say.

Another shark attack in Sydney has increased the need for better early warning systems.

There have been renewed calls for a shark cull to be launched after a young mother was bitten by a shark at Coogee Beach in Sydney

Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.AllNewsSportCultureLifestyleA young mother was bitten by a shark at…

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After a shark attack at Coogee Beach on Saturday, the state government has ruled out culling the protected migratory great white but not bull sharks.

From tough wetsuits to wearable devices, experts say there are ways to reduce your risk in the ocean