The Fatal Coast

Tracks recently hit the road and travelled to Lennox Head and Ballina on the North Coast of New South Wales to speak to members of the community about the recent spate of shark attacks in the area.
There have been five shark attacks since February - one fatal - along with numerous incidents that have remained unreported and have been shared anecdotally around the community.
For this exclusive on-the-ground documentary Tracks spoke to professional surfer Adam Melling, Ballina Mayor David Wright, Southern Cross University Marine Biologist Doctor Daniel Bucher, Air T&G Helicopter pilot Tim Latimer, Marine Rescue Chief Commanders John Donohue & Lorraine Leuckel, Ballina Fisherman’s Co-Op representative Josh Kilgour, Positive Change for Marine Life’s Courtney Jackson, Glassing Division's Julian Webb, resident shaper Joel Fitzgerald and many other members of the Northern Rivers community to hear how the recent events have affected the region and whether or not something can be done.
Directed by
Alex Workman & Mat Macready
Film/Edit:
Dom Sullivan
www.workbydom.com
Additional Footage:
Luch Bernhard Photography
Saul Goodwin Property Shot Photography
www.psphoto.com.au

[@jonoedwards4195]

No body is talking about the Extinct Species of Fish that used to to travel up and down the Coast, Huge Patches of Tailor, Mullet and Australian Salmon that would turn the Surf Zone Black drawing Fisho's, Pro an Amateur by the thousands. The Fisheries made a Special Clause for the Queensland Pros to Legally fish in NSW as most of the viable but depleting Fish Stocks never made it past all the Nets down south!
A Hungry desperate Shark won't be so Finicky about what it attempts to swallow.

[@cookthatshit1233]

great video! had one swim right past me other day tallows didnt bother us but still scary

[@shimsladey3227]

Grew up in Ballina and Evans and the two sharks we only saw back when I was a grommet were bronzies and tigers. Now we have to worry about bulls and whites. The fact there are stuff all trawlers in the area now as they used to shoot any shark that came close to the boat years ago may have added to the increase in population due to the lack of culling and the increase in the food available.

[@timspare80]

I grew up and surfed in Lennox and Ballina throughout the late 90's, never saw a shark, never had an issue.

[@surfinmuso37]

Check the bling on the mayor!

[@homefront3162]

I need closed captioning

[@YoUtUbEhAnDlEsArEgReAt]

Damn. I'm Australian, but people who spend a lot of time next to/on the coastline are really fking hard to understand sometimes. It's like the salt water has trashed their vocal chords, the shape of their mouth, and altered the chemistry of their brain.
Farmers who'e grown up with zero schooling are easier to understand at times.

[@YoUtUbEhAnDlEsArEgReAt]

Guy at 4:10 was good, though.

[@davidmcintosh902]

Wow 6:30 mark, listen to that tale? Why pick him? Interesting.

[@johnfritsche4612]

Been surfing central California (Santa Barbara to San Francisco) 25 years. Somewhere between 5--10 great white attacks, a couple/few fatal. Not a lot considering how very crowded the many breaks always are. Tons of seals and sea lions all over the place here.

[@johnfritsche4612]

A couple in early 1990's 15 minutes north of Santa Cruz, a few at the same spot in very recent years an hour north of Santa Barbara.

[@boogieheads]

@@johnfritsche4612That area is so sharky, many attacks since this comment

[@simontatchell6386]

lol so funny the bioligist looks just like the bioligist in Jaws

[@CaptMorgasm]

bio lig ist

[@janicevanhorn618]

Narrator guy is hot!

[@monkeyton5]

Janice Van Horny

[@sharongoodsell9341]

I thought the same

[@leesquirrel3550]

We go into places where we really don't belong every day. We humans have to respect the places where we are. Respect the animals, plants, and take your chances. If it's worth it you'll do it.

[@luxuryhomes8889]

ahh theses backpackars mate arrggggg!!

[@greggsmith7688]

Unfortunately shit happens, you decide to go in the water

[@sharkyshepo8167]

Hey I live in pottsville nsw near ballina I catch alot of sharks of the beach. I caught 2 sharks off ballina sth wall mid January, took about 20mins and 2 sharks were landed, sharky place hey

[@carter6594]

hasn't been one for ages now

[@haschocolate4542]

Carter good to hear

[@LurgsHowToGuides]

Scarey but killing sharks is not an option. Not sure what the answer is. I feel lucky to surf UK waves now. Be safe out there.

[@stribo]

3:08 Targaryens

[@F3lken]

stop overfishing the sharks food how about that.

[@raindogred]

the one thing we know from watching this video is they don't have a food shortage, and that sharks don't see humans as a food source.. The biologist said having plenty of sharks is a sign of healthy fisheries..it means there's plenty of food for them. I'm geussing u didn't actually watch this??

[@homefront3162]

WHITE BOY LMAO, You mad Bro?

[@haschocolate4542]

Spirit Incognita 4:16 he states that lot’s of sharks is a good sign of the ecosystem

[@mozdickson]

too many surfers.

[@gustavobro2484]

The worst sharks are the two legged ones that live on land…………

[@kimrecreant]

There are great whites all around Australia. Gotta expect to be attacked if you spend a lot of time in the water.

[@bradleyryan6626]

Its time to ban surfing, make it illegal!!!

[@brendafoster3080]

HEY!You look like a wetsuit(minus face).

[@buxyman123]

shut the fuck up brenda

[@lucasdevlin1]

Ban sharks

[@clarkewi]

There's too many great whites because of the uncontrolled seal population.

[@Rowkawa]

There is no seal up there

[@jeffparryncc1701]

/facepalm moment right there

[@sharongoodsell9341]

Seriously 😂 stop controlling every aspect of life