Sharks big presence in waters around NZ

AUCKLAND: The waters around New Zealand are teeming with the apex predators of the ocean — and there is barely a stretch of coastline where you will not encounter a species of shark.

While more than 65 shark species have been identified living in our surrounding seas, there are about a dozen that fishermen and swimmers will regularly come across.

Despite their fearful appearance, only a handful, such as the great white, mako and hammerhead, pose a threat to human life.

Many species congregate in the warm waters of the upper North Island, ranging from bronze whalers, blue sharks and makos to giant manta rays and school sharks.

Around the South Island, generally harmless species such as spiny dogfish, school and blue sharks predominate.

Some species such as the hammerhead, blue shark and spiny dogfish are common in all coastal waters.

But by far one of the most dangerous stretches of coastline in the country is in the deep South, where mature great whites, with their distinct white underbelly, live.

Considered the most dangerous shark, the great white is found around both islands, though the young prefer the warmer northern waters.

Adults can be found in southern waters near seal colonies.

The Department of Conservation (Doc) says New Zealand is a global hot spot for this species, along with the waters off California, South Africa, Australia and Japan.

The apex predator, which can grow up to 7m, poses the most threat to humans and is the fish responsible for the largest number of unprovoked attacks.

Since 1888 there have been five fatal attacks and 13 where people have been injured off Otago, Southland and Stewart Island beaches.

Over the past 170 years, 13 people have lost their lives in shark attacks across New Zealand.

The death toll rose last week when 19yearold Kaelah Marlow was attacked by a shark, suspected to be a great white, at Bowentown end of Waihi Beach, in the Bay of Plenty.

Doc says encounters with large sharks in coastal waters usually happen over spring and summer, when many species move inshore to pup and feed.

Recent warm summer conditions have prompted sharks to come closer to shore to revel in the balmy conditions.

Dozens of bronze whalers — measuring about 2.5m — and around half a dozen hammerheads were seen swimming off Matarangi Beach in the Coromandel recently.

In another case, hundreds of swimmers were forced out of the sea twice at the weekend when several sharks were spotted at Pauanui Beach.

Surf Life Saving New Zealand national search and rescue manager Allan Mundy said the increase in sightings was understandable given conditions at beaches, but not a cause for panic.

‘‘We are seeing more sharks than probably what we would normally see,’’ he told RNZ.

‘‘But if we have a look at what is actually happening on the beach, we’ve got clear water at the moment, there hasn’t been a really big swell, so the visibility in the water is really good, and we are seeing a lot more people down on the beach, walking and swimming, because of the Covid effect.’’

The fact sharks were being spotted along the coast should not cause alarm as the predators — mostly bronze whalers and thresher sharks — were simply cruising and not feeding, he said.

‘‘They’re pretty much doing what we would be doing, enjoying the warm water, basking and cruising.

‘‘There’s not any real food source along the surf beaches.

‘‘These sharks feed out to sea or in the harbours, where there’s lots and lots of food . . . If they’re hunting, they are in stealth mode.’’

Doc marine scientist Clinton Duffy previously said many people had the mistaken perception sharks were uncommon in our waters. But this was not the case.

However, while attacks were uncommon, people should always swim between the flags, and never alone at a nonpatrolled beach, he said.

‘‘For the most part, sharks are completely uninterested in humans.’’ — The New Zealand Herald