Commercial crab pots at popular beaches act as “human berly” by luring sharks to swimming areas, said Key. According to him this should be stop on heavily used beaches during summer season to prevent shark attacks. Recently shark attack an inflatable boat carrying two lifeguards trying to herd it out to sea at Omaha.
Key states that local residents at Omaha concerned that fisherman regularly setting nearly 40 crab pots. This acts as an invitation for feeding sharks and thus increases shark reporting during summer. Key added that Ministry of Fisheries official should now issue “cease and desist” orders to commercial crab pots to prevent shark attacks on popular beaches.
On the other hand Fisheries Minister Jim Anderton has rejected Key’s call, saying the department has not found any trace of crab pots attracted more sharks then would otherwise be there. He explained that during summer sharks came into shallow waters to breed and feed, therefore, it would be futile to prevent crab potting.
Pumpkin Patch owner Greg Muir, who owned a holiday home at Omaha, supported John Key’s call. Even Daniel Baturic, president of Orewa’s Surf Life Saving Club, also claimed that frequent spotting of sharks when pots were in the area. Reid Quinlan, local diver and underwater photographer, claimed that the bronze whaler population was increasing and were spotted every week by spearfishers. John Taunton-Clark, ministry’s inshore fisheries manager, said the authority would track down suspected fishermen and explain the residents’ concerns.
