Fatal attack revives debate over controversial shark nets in Australia
5 hours ago Share Save Katy Watson Australia correspondent, Sydney Share Save
Watch: How Australia is trying to protect beachgoers from shark attacks
The ocean has always been a big part of Glen Butler's life. He's been a surfer for 50 years and, in that time, he says he rarely thought about sharks. "You're aware you're stepping into their environment, so you're cautious," the 61-year-old told the BBC. But Mr Butler's confidence on the water was shattered last month. He'd gone for a surf with his friends one Saturday morning at Long Reef in Sydney's northern beaches. A few minutes after Mr Butler got out of the water, fellow surfer Mercury Psillakis was killed by a great white shark. "It's shaken us up a bit," Mr Butler admits. Mercury and his twin brother Mike were well-known in the local community, he adds: "You'd always say g'day." The killing has revived a long-running and delicate debate about how to keep beachgoers safe in Australia's waters, and turned the spotlight on the state of New South Wales (NSW). Authorities here have a range of measures in their arsenal to mitigate the risk of shark attacks, but the most famous - and most controversial -
Continue Reading on BBC News
This preview shows approximately 15% of the article. Read the full story on the publisher's website to support quality journalism.