Shark Smart
G'day
Not to fuel the shark debate again, but I have a gripe.
We went out trolling on the weekend, did some serious K's. All the way out to the trench and hit two FAD's up, fishing wasn't great. Couldn't even turn a reel. Nothing on either FAD except a small amount of bait fish.
Decided to hit up the west end of Rottnest. Went for a quick look, bulk divers around. So decided to push off the west end and keep trolling, found a few schools of Tuna that were very easily spooked. So we cut the engine and started to drift casting lures when a 4m Great white turned up and hung around the boat for a good 10 - 15 minutes. Such an impressive animal, stuck its face out of the water to eye ball us, and showed a definite level of intelligence.
We were approximately 2km away from lots of divers so did the righty and called it into 'Shark Smart' which redirects you to Water Police. I gave all the details to water police and mentioned the relative close proximity to divers. I was expected it to get called in over the radio to warn people in the area, nothing (unless for whatever reason our radio didn't pick up the message), go on the shark smart website and it also hasn't been logged in there either, so it begs the question, what is the point in calling it in?
I know Water Police are busy, but it is difficult for people to make informed decisions about getting in the water if the information being provided is not properly logged and made available.
Thanks,
little johnny
Posts: 5359
Date Joined: 04/12/11
I've always phoned
Or called sea rescue. Tell them the area where it is . Just in case divers have logged on ,and they can warn them.( if logged on) straight away by radio. Prob not the way to do it but it goes out instantly.
br3nno
Posts: 352
Date Joined: 25/12/12
Sea rescue volunteers would
Sea rescue volunteers would absolutely do this. Less bueocracy. Given its not something that happens every day
BC
opsrey
Posts: 1200
Date Joined: 05/10/07
Pan Pan
It would have to be a legitimate Pan Pan message.
Plenty of people would hear that.
Y_Knot
Posts: 64
Date Joined: 05/11/10
good effort
in reporting it , as a diver and a dive charter skipper I use that website to see if there have been any sharks seen or detected in the areas I head to on most trips out, like you I have also reported sightings but mine was added to shark smart website,, its a bit concerning that this info could be getting missed or not added for people to see..
meglodon
Posts: 5981
Date Joined: 17/06/10
Good work
Anyone can put out a Securitay (repeat 3 times) call to all stations or a Pan Pan call X3 all stations this is (your call sign) reporting the sighting of a large shark in such and such area.
Saves time in getting a warning out to those on the water ASAP. Then contact shark smart.
That's the way I'd do it any way
Willlo
Posts: 1490
Date Joined: 07/10/11
Last summer i spotted a
Last summer i spotted a large noah cruising along the beach down this way.I did the right thing and reported it .Checked on the web site and it didnt show up until 1700 hrs that night, considering i reported it at 0930 i thought the whole set up pretty pisss poor and not really worth the drama of reporting it in the first place. Bloody shark could have eaten its way all the way to busso before any report.
Call Sign - BZ785
Haynes Hunter Prowler CC
Noxious
Posts: 504
Date Joined: 22/12/11
I will call in over the
I will call in over the radio myself in future.
Willo - My report is still not on shark smart. Not sure what the break down in reporting has been, but it is pretty poor. I agree it isn't great and makes me question the whole system. I won't be checking it in future with any real sense of meaningful data.
A mate of mine at work proudly came over to tell me about his diving over the weekend, and i showed him the brief video I have of the white shark we saw. Turns out he was diving in relatively close proximity to where I spotted the big white. His face was priceless, but a bit scary too. He also mentions that he routinely checks shark smart to make some sort of informed decision about where to dive.
timboon
Posts: 2957
Date Joined: 14/11/10
Shame you did have Mr 303
Shame you did have Mr 303 with you Noxious....
Would have been a few necklaces there down at the Freo markets.....