A succession of attacks in the middle of summer led to the closure of dozens of beaches on the east coast of Australia. In an interview with Reuters, biologist Victoria Camilieri-Asch explains that recent environmental phenomena are creating particularly favorable conditions for sharks to approach coastal areas frequented by bathers.
The heavy rains recorded in recent weeks in eastern Australia degraded water quality and dragged large quantities of nutrients into rivers, estuaries and coastal areas, he says. the researcher at to the report from . This process attracts small fish and, by drag, larger predators.
Among the species involved is the bull shark, known for adapting to turbid and brackish waters and for circulating in areas close to ports and river systems. The expert emphasizes that These animals do not choose to attack humansbut that low water visibility and increased human activity at sea increase the risk of dangerous encounters.
The warning took on tragic contours this Saturday with the , attacked by a shark while swimming near Sydney Harbour. The case, disclosed after the interview withbiologist Victoria Camilieri-Aschfrom to Reuters, reinforces calls from authorities to avoid water activities in affected areasdespite this attack having already happened last weekend. After almost a week of hospitalization, the teenager succumbed to his injuries.
