Sharks follow crowds to make Bells one of worst for attacks

BELLS Beach has been named one of Australia’s worst beaches for shark attacks, according to a global shark attack registry.

Data from the Shark Research Institute shows there have been three shark attacks in the past 26 years at the popular surfing spot — although none were fatal.

The SRI data shows there have been 16 shark attacks at Victorian beaches between 1990 and 2016, well behind the 122 at beaches in NSW.

Byron Bay tops the list of Australian beaches notorious for shark attacks with 12 that have resulted in two deaths.

Bells Beach was the only Victorian beach in Australia’s top 13 most notorious for shark attacks, according to the data analysed by comparison website finder.com.au.

The release of the SRI data comes as three surfers were knocked from their boards at local beaches by sharks last month; one at Bells Beach and two at Thirteenth Beach.

According to the Global Shark Attack File, complied by the SRI, there have been 42 fatal shark attacks in Australia since 1990.

Author of soon-to-bereleased book Sharks Never Sleep Brendan McAloon interviewed scientists and conservationists for the facts behind shark attacks, following a year of record shark attacks in 2015.

The Anglesea-based former Geelong Advertiser journalist and surfing writer travelled the world while writing his book, to interview shark attack survivors including Australian surfer Mick Fanning.

McAloon said there was still unknown about great white sharks and the reasons they bite people.

“There is some research to suggest that they don’t bite humans because they don’t see them as prey rather because they see them as a threat to their habitat,” he said.

He said research suggested it was likely shark attacks had risen due to the number of swimmers and surfers in the water, particularly in winter.

Victoria’s last fatal shark attack was in 1967 at Cheviot Beach, Portsea.