But multiple reports of shark sightings in the Bega Valley this summer have not turned people off from local beaches, as from Bermagui to Eden the sandy strips have been covered in a kaleidoscope of towels and umbrellas.

A lot of interest was generated over the recent attack at Merimbula Main Beach, where a swimmer was reportedly bitten on the foot by a shark.

Also, several sharks have been spotted by Department of Primary Industries’ (DPI) aerial patrol teams at Merimbula and Pambula over the last month. 

And we can’t forget the tragedy three years ago, where Christine Armstrong was taken by a shark at Tathra. 

While there may have been increased reports of sightings, it is difficult to say whether that is because of an increase in shark numbers. 

In fact numbers may be declining, as education group Shark Angels states an estimated 73 million sharks are killed each year, which works out to be more than 10,000 sharks per hour. 

More likely is that it’s due to the increased scrutiny of sharks and shark attacks in recent years.

In 2015, the NSW government announced its Shark Management Strategy, a $16million investment over five years. 

Part of this strategy was to instigate ongoing aerial surveillance, providing more patrols along the coastline.

You can be alerted to shark sightings as they are recorded by following the DPI’s SharkSmart Twitter account where aerial patrols post locations of the animals and the occasional picture. 

Five shark listening stations were also installed along the South Coast this year, including one at Merimbula, to register tagged sharks when they swim nearby. 

While a theory has been proposed that the reason we see more sharks closer to shore is because they are running out of food, the Western Australian government has announced this is not true.

When questioning the safety of jumping into the ocean we have to remember whenever we take to the water – either swimming, spear-fishing, surfing, or snorkeling – we are in the sharks’ habitat. Because of that, we will inevitably come in contact with them.