Stewart Island locals fight to ban shark cage diving

[@lifeisgood9474]

Good points made by the locals but great white sharks have always been around that area. The location and food source probably so theyll always be there. You cant go to a popular shark area and then think you should have the right to dive for paua and be able to swim. Better to ask to build a barrier or gate a section of the beach for swimming because shark cage businesses benefits the economy more than those locals complaining. With a place popular for having great whites no one should be using an inflatable boat, that should be banned.

[@happyandblessed5640]

There are loads of videos of poor Sharks getting stuck in cages and thrill seekers being bitten. I think it's cruel and it should be banned. It's not a spectators sport and these animals should be respected as the wolves of the sea.

[@aaronbarlow4376]

Tigers of the sea. More loners and very powerful. Orcas are the bears of the sea.

[@robertjankovic8467]

not only that from the cage to chumming all 9ver the world GWs now believe everytind its see a boat with humans they expect food . Guess what if don't feed my dog after a while he gets agitated real quick wants to bite someone , keep it up assholes

[@cHeStEr5434]

@@aaronbarlow4376 But bears don't hunt in packs, but Orcas do (pods).

[@aaronbarlow4376]

@@cHeStEr5434 Maybe Lions of the sea is better suited, but tigers are bigger, faster and stronger than lions so maybe not.

[@EdmundSampson-pd7vi]

Realistically there's been like 2 and noones been bitten in the cage

[@blueheelersunite]

I couldn't agree with you more. There have been studies overseas which definitely attributes Cage diving as dangerous

[@stephencook7337]

They’re not blaming the cage diving company for attracting the sharks. They’re blaming the cage diving company for changing the shark’s behavior.

[@brandonrichmond4736]

What about the fishing boats that have been illegally dumping unwanted by catch over board attracting sharks for years ?

[@Greg_gregson]

Yeah they're assholes too.

[@inpursuitofgiants7986]

Exactly

[@FXDXT-13]

Are the locals upset that they missed the boat on this entrepreneurial cash cow?

[@noelbush6284]

I went cage diving out of Port Lincoln several years ago and the operator I went with didn,t use fish chum or blood to attract the sharks they use music yes music. You go to North Neptune island anchor up and put speakers in the water and crank up the volume and the sharks do come and they are not in a frenzy or aggressive they just very inquisitive like a big puppy dog. It was a great experience. Just a thought these tour operators out of Stewart Island might not be the only boats attracting sharks looking for a feed. If you have fishing trawlers and the like throwing by catch and undersized fish back into the water and people on boats depositing their food scraps overboard this I imagine would be attracting sharks. So maybe these sharks are associating boats with food because lots of them are feeding sharks either intentionally or unintentionally. This practice of dumping your food scraps overboard is causing problems around the islands of the great barrier reef so much so that people are getting chewed.

[@bricky332]

the locals r overreacting, its not like anyone has ever died as a result from a shark attack off stewart island and its not their water, those companies are allowed there and they dont interfere with the sharks, only showcase and educate ppl on them

[@thatfishingfellanz]

Just paid $500 for a shark cage dive last week mate, definitely worth your grandkids legs

[@nahuelgamboa7911]

I'd rather finance my studies at University with that money than blow it on shady cage diving

[@aaronbarlow4376]

A big great white can break into any cage. We don't have Vibranium or adamantium yet.

[@BonuxCouleur]

I feel for this man because he is fighting against a business and politicians are judged on their capacity to safeguard business and local employment. Money makers if you will which is fair enough. So what he probably has to do is try to get the regulators to follow the Australian example and create laws for cage diving operators to be obliged to operate 70ks off shore. Aussies use motorized cages now to fish for shells, I would definitely invest in one in this area.

[@mollybaker8637]

I think everyone can have their own opinion. But I think that man is forgetting you cant make a animal stay in a certain area. Sharks are naturally curious and will come closer to shore where there is activity and schooling bait fish tend swim closer to shore as there is more resources for them. Also breeding grounds tend to be closer to the shore as it’s safer from other predators and strong currents.I could go on and on. Just remember it’s the sharks home so swimming in their home always has its risk regardless if your shark cage diving or swimming :)

[@Antipodean33]

The old fella with his flanny done up is grasping at straws when saying the pointers regard boats as a feed. Pointers have been stealing fish from boats/fisherman since the dawn of time. Pointers are aggressive apex predators, been on earth for millions of years, it's an aggressive animal for surviving this long. If I knew there was 100 pointers there, I'll know not to go diving there or go out in a tiny boat

[@BonuxCouleur]

"No one is responsible" I am not buying that one second, when you go to a construction site, the site manager is by Law responsible for visitors to follow the safety procedure, you have to watch an introduction video with safety regulations. I cannot see how it would not fall under Work Safe Govt simply because it is "cage diving". So what.

[@Wotawaka]

Unfortunately tourist dollars mean more than your lifestyle to the government.

[@craig9563]

its now 2023: what was the outcome?

[@ConmouZ]

Who counts sharks into human populations 🤦🏼‍♂️

[@aaronbarlow4376]

Just don't go in the water. Watch Netflix on the couch.

[@capitainebonhomme1609]

I thought sharks didn't like cold water ! so much for me feeling safe swimming in the ocean during the winter months !😮

[@aaronbarlow4376]

Great whites can tolerate colder water. Wherever there are seals or sealions there will be great whites.

[@nicknick2903]

You're not supposed to feed the bears

[@Anthony-fd3lz]

They'll get Hungry when the boats leave. No swimming signs where predators are sighted, (yes of humans Barry.) Haven't you seen jaws? C'mon if 100 sharks were near your beach you can't say swim and enjoy New Zealand Just save a life.

[@Shadookie]

womp womp

[@workhardplayhard3206]

booooo

[@F217-o3r]

The kiwi way. Anything to make money.