Shark Bite Pic Looks Bad -- but What's the Danger?

Queensland, Australia, Dec. 7, 2009 — -- Some of the most shark-infested waters in the world lie off Australia's Gold Coast. Here, the government feels compelled to set up giant shark nets unsettlingly close to popular beaches.

"They'll go right into the beach at times," said Richard Exten, a district officer for the Australian state of Queensland.

A discovery in the area in October made news around the world. A dead great white shark was fished out of the water with a huge, hideously clean bite taken out of it. Experts measured the wounds and concluded they were inflicted by the jaws of another, much bigger, great white, one that was possibly fifteen feet long.

Exten said the bite meant there is a much larger shark out there.

"We believe that because where there's small sharks there's always big sharks," he said.

The great white in particular is capable of preying on members of its own species, Exten said. Not to mention, in rare cases, humans. He said the shark was a danger to bathers.

"Most definitely," he said. "In their mind, it's food."

The existence of a so-called "monster shark" made headlines, but it didn't seem to scare the locals. The beaches are still crowded, even in areas where swimming is off limits. Surfers are totally undaunted.

"I'd rather die doing something that I love than live in fear," one told ABC News.

While the huge shark lurking off the coast may not be causing panic, it is causing controversy.

The debate turns on the use of shark nets. They're only used in two countries: Australia and South Africa.

The problem is that while the nets deter sharks, they also snag dolphins, sea turtles, manatees and humpback whales.

"There's really an incredible toll on marine life," said Darren Kindsleysides, a local conservationist. "And our question for the government is: 'Is it really worth a program that's costly in financial terms and costly in terms of marine life, is it really worth it? Are the benefits really there?' As I say, they're yet to be proven."

Exten said safety concerns outweighed environmental concerns.

"We place the lives of our swimmers first and foremost," he said. "And while we have such attractive beaches, we're gonna protect the people who use them and swim there."