Ocean Stuff: Running with Dolphins

I only had my favourite set of DVD's - "The Blue Planet" narrated by David Attenborough returned by a colleague last week  - so sat down to watch it with my 6 yo.
 
In the opening scene David Attenborough describes the size and wonder of a Blue Whale...its the largest living creature on the earth...its heart is the size of a small car...many of its blood vessels are so large you can swim through them. It goes on. It is absolutely amazing.
 
Coincidently, in terms of the marine environment in Western Australia its been a big week here with displays of The Danger, The Magnificence and The Beauty by the creatures that live in the Ocean.
 
The Danger:
 
First last Saturday with the tragic shark attack in Gracetown and feel for the victim. I'm also  surprised with the lack of expertise we have here in Australia in terms of understanding shark behaviour on the basis that we have mores attacks per capita than any other continent. Whites are in fact relatively intelligent creatures, and will hunt together - as shown in documentary I watched a couple of years ago about their behaviour when hunting seals of California.  
 
I respect and admire Great Whites - they are infact superb and wondrous creatures. However my personal view is that we need to control fishing of Great Whites of our coastal waters - but not necessarily give them wholesale protection. It seems there numbers are on the increase, perhaps they are driven in by over-fishing in deep water, but my assertion is that they are inceasing in numbers as the whale population (a major food source) has increased in recent years - this is coupled with the fact they are protected.
 
To be truthful they scare the crap out of me - but it won't keep me out of the water. Lets hope they just dont become a pest like the crocodiles up in Northern Australia have become since their own protection.
 
The Magnificence:
 
Also, on the subject of marine creatures, my wife called to say that they saw a whale not far off Trigg Beach on Wednesday. The wildlife officers had to rescue it from a net that it had caught and was dragging along with it. My wife and 6 yo witnessed it blowing water which was a buzz. Later it was all shown on the evening news.
 
The Beauty:
 
Finally, the perhaps the highlight of my week was sighting a pod of about 6 dolphins only metres from the bank of the Swan River when going for a lunchtime run yesterday.
 
I don't normally agree with New Agers - but they tend to say that you are going to have a lucky day if you see a dolphin.
 
Well, on this one I will have to concur. While all large marine creatures are amazing and wondrous - I think anyone is a hell of alot luckier if they unexpectedly find themselves in close proximity to a dolphin rather than a shark.