Hunt on for ‘monster shark’ that killed diver off Perth
SYDNEY: A hunt was under way yesterday for a monster 6m shark blamed for a fatal attack on a diver in western Australia, despite allegations it amounted to a “revenge killing”.
Hunt on for ‘monster shark’ that killed diver off Perth
SYDNEY: A hunt was under way yesterday for a monster 6m shark blamed for a fatal attack on a diver in western Australia, despite allegations it amounted to a “revenge killing”.
The woman,60,was fatally mauled 1km offshore from Perth on Sunday by a shark described by witnesses as bigger than their 5.3m boat.
A surfer also succumbed to his injuries on Friday after his leg was bitten off by a shark along the same coastline last week.
Th West Australian fisheries department said it would deploy “capture gear” to haul in what they believe is a great white shark that poses “a serious threat to public safety”.
Fisheries official Tony Cappelluti said if a shark matching the description of the one that attacked the diver was captured, it was “highly likely we will take the decision to destroy it in the interests of public safety”.
“we have two methods … we can either let it expire on the line on we can use a firearm to destroy it,” he said, “In this instance today be using a firearm.”
Animal rights group Humane Society International Expressed “extreme concern” at the government’s plans. ”Given that science tells us that drum lines are an unnecessary and lethal option for shark management, the government’s response can only be described as revenge Michel Kennedy said in a statement.
Western Australian Premier Colin Barnett said his state, which has now stuffered 14 shark attrak fatalities since 2000, was in shock at the last death.
“I don’t think there’s any doubt that the number of shark attacks and fatalities from shark attack has increased quite significantly over recent years,” he told reporters in Perth. Mr Barnett said a number of measures were deployed, including the aerial patrols, to alert swimmers to sharks. But the catching and killing of the predators has long proved controversial.
A previous trial involving baited hooks attrahed to floating drum lines to snare sharks was abandoned after objections from conservationist and marine scientist.
Mr Barnett said, however, the government would always err on the side public safety and reserved the right to destroy a shark if it posed an imminent threat. AFP