WHEN John West fell into a shark tank, the Taronga Zoo keeper thought he was doomed.

The then 17-year-old had been vacuuming out coins thrown at sharks by tourists with two others when the plank they were standing on gave way.

“People used to throw money at the sharks and if it landed on the head, your wish would come true,” he said.

“We were siphoning the money with the sharks swimming all around us when the plank gave way and dropped us in the middle of the shark pool.

“The sharks scattered as we swam for our lives.”

media_camera Marine biologist John West retires after 60 years conducting research. Pictures: Supplied

media_camera He revealed he wasn’t in any real danger after falling into the shark tank.

Mr West reflects how he was never was in any real danger — the sharks were grey nurses.

However, so little was known about shark behaviour back then that even non-attacking sharks were feared community.

The incident was a turning point for the zookeeper who would go on to become one of Australia’s foremost experts on sharks.

Mr West created the nation’s first central database on incidents — the Australian Shark Attack File — which remains his proudest achievement and the go-to resource for governments.

He maintains his long-held view that it is people rather than sharks that need to be managed, and that meant more research into the species to determine their habits and movements.

“From my perspective, shark attacks are random events that can’t be predicted,” Mr West said.

“A better idea is to manage people, because its people going in to the water that is the issue.

“More people drown in the water, but I do understand people’s fear — the whole idea of being eaten alive.”

media_camera Mr West is only one of a few people who stick up for sharks and has become one of Australia’s most foremost experts on sharks.

The comments come as Mr West, who initiated the first ever International Shark Conservation Conference, steps back from the job that has dominated his life.

The departure marks the end of an era for the Zoo, which has evolved from simply being a collection of interesting animals to one focused on the conservation of wildlife.

When Mr West started, the Zoo was more “wildlife stampbook” where curators collected weird exhibits such as albinos and other one-of-a-kind animals, he said.

media_camera The marine biologist, pictured left, still has one regret after all these years.

As for his biggest regret, being unable to win over the Zoo’s star silverback gorilla Kibabu who maintained his hatred for Mr West until he was left.

“He was my overall favourite animal, but he didn’t like me,” he said.

“He used to really turn it up if I walked past his enclosure so the Zoo staff sometimes banned me from going near him.”

“I always had a white beard and I think he saw me as another silverback gorilla and felt threatened.”

media_camera One of his biggest achievement was creating Australia’s first data base on incidents.

The Life Science Operations manager has retired to spend more time with his family — he met his wife at the Zoo, but says he will remain involved in a voluntarily basis.

“It’s my big extended family,” he said

Originally published as Shark man’s zoo fin-ish after 60 years