Shark Talk: What’s Really Happening in NSW Waters?

Following several recent shark bite incidents across NSW, this community talk will explore how we can better understand shark behaviour while keeping people safe in our shared ocean spaces.

Bringing together leading experts – Dr Amy Smoothey, NSW DPI Shark Research Group, Emeritus Professor Rob Harcourt, marine ecologist and marine predator specialist, and Professor Nathan Hart, a world authority in shark sensory biology and human–shark interactions, this discussion will explore the environmental and ecological factors that influence shark presence, including rainfall, water quality, temperature, migration patterns and seasonal beach use.

The discussion will place recent events in scientific context, addressing common misconceptions about sharks, examining why bites can appear to cluster under certain conditions, and highlighting practical, evidence-based ways ocean users can reduce risk. Grounded in research and focused on coexistence, this event aims to separate fact from fiction and foster a balanced, informed perspective on sharks in NSW waters.

Free event, bookings essential.

Dr Amy Smoothey is a marine ecologist with the NSW DPI who researches shark biology and movement along Australia’s east coast 

Emeritus Professor Rob Harcourt is a marine ecologist specialising in conservation, animal behaviour and marine ecosystems

Professor Nathan Hart is a comparative neurobiologist at Macquarie University whose research explores how sharks sense and interact with their environment