Shark attacks: Perth survey shows people prefer education to culls

University of Sydney study, conducted after two shark-related deaths, reveals overwhelming preference for non-lethal responses to attacks

Perth residents overwhelmingly prefer non-lethal responses to shark attacks, a new survey shows. Seventy-five per cent of those polled said they wanted money be spent on education and research rather than catching the shark, according to a survey published by the University of Sydney on Wednesday.

The survey was conducted between June 8 and 15, two days after university lecturer Doreen Collyer was fatally mauled by a great white shark while diving 1km off the Mindarie marina, in Perth's northern suburbs, and five days after surfer Ben Gerring died in hospital from wounds also sustained in a great white attack.