South Australian shark cage diving tour operators defend use of bait to attract sharks

Shark cage diving tourism operators in the South Australian fishing town of Port Lincoln have defended their use of baits and berley to attract sharks.

There is growing criticism of the practice following a near-fatal attack on 26-year-old local surfer Chris Blowes on ANZAC Day.

Blowes had his leg bitten off while surfing at Right Point in Fishery Bay, about 40 kilometres south of Port Lincoln.

Following the attack, shark cage diving tour have been split into two camps.

Calypso Star Charters General Manager Andrew Wright says he does not shy away from his company's use of blood and berley (a mix of plant and/or animal tissue) to attract sharks to the back of his tour boats.

Wright told the ABC “it's never an easy time for our business when there is an attack, and I guess it makes it more highly charged and emotional, when it's down the road.”

Tim Lilly was at Fishery Bay 10 years ago when another surfer was attacked, and again when Chris Blowes cheated death on Anzac Day.

Lilly told the ABC “tourists come to the area to get that experience of their life to see those animals in action and the locals in this area are left with their own experiences that are not as pleasant.”

Jonas Woolford is an abalone diver and head of his industry's South Australian association and shares the surfers' concerns that the shark cage diving industry is affecting the behaviour of the sharks.

Woolford stated “so many places around the world you are told and there's the signs, 'don't feed the wild animals'.

"So I cannot understand why it is allowed down here."

Shark cage diving tours pulled in nearly 15,000 tourists and helped inject millions of dollars into the Port Lincoln economy last year.

6th January 2015 - SOUTH AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT TO OFFER LONGER LICENCES FOR SHARK CAGE DIVING OPERATORS