A growing number of shark interactions off Australia’s coast, including recent bites near Sydney beaches, have sparked public concern about whether great white sharks are becoming more aggressive.

However, scientists and researchers emphasise there is no evidence that great whites or other shark species in Australian waters are inherently more aggressive than elsewhere.

Instead, experts point to a combination of seasonal migrations, environmental conditions and high human ocean use as key drivers of shark-human encounters.

Recent incidents in New South Wales, where multiple shark bites occurred within a short period, have been linked to a ‘perfect storm’ of factors including warmer sea temperatures, heavy rainfall creating murky water and increased prey activity near popular beaches.

These conditions are known to draw bull sharks and other species closer to shore, increasing the likelihood of chance encounters with swimmers and surfers.

Researchers note that while bull and great white sharks have powerful predatory instincts, many interactions with humans are likely cases of mistaken identity or exploratory bites rather than deliberate aggression.

Long-term datasets on Australian shark incidents reveal that bites have increased over recent decades, but scientists attribute this trend to greater numbers of people engaging in water-based recreation, expanded coastal populations and improved reporting systems, rather than shifts in shark behaviour.

Historical records dating back centuries show that shark interactions have long been a part of life along Australia’s extensive coastline, which includes tens of thousands of beaches where people swim, surf and dive.

Marine ecologists also highlight that the perception of aggression is affected by the visibility and frequency of incidents.

Great white sharks, for example, are apex predators and do appear more frequently in areas with abundant prey, but their behaviour is driven by natural ecological patterns rather than hostility toward humans.

Studies on shark behaviour emphasise that attacks on humans remain infrequent and statistically rare relative to the number of people in the water.

Authorities continue to encourage beachgoers to follow safety advice, such as avoiding murky water after rainfall and swimming near lifeguard-patrolled areas, to minimise risk.

While public discourse around shark safety remains heightened by recent events, scientists caution against attributing increased shark interactions to heightened aggression among Australian great whites.

Instead, they point to complex environmental dynamics and increased human activity along coasts as the primary factors shaping observed patterns of shark-human encounters.