Shark scientist Leonardo Guida said he “would have thought the same thing” if he had been there. Claire Marie’s description gave him “tingling goosebumps” because “in hindsight we know there was a tragedy”.
“If there is a bait ball[a tightly packed ball of fish],and the ocean is churning,it is a good opportunity for a feed,and perhaps a decent one at that. These are signs of a healthy ocean,” said Dr Guida,an expert with the Australian Marine Conservation Society.
Joe Garufi,secretary of the South Sydney Amateur Fishing Association,said video footage appeared to show lots of bait fish during the attack.
He guessed the shark mistook the swimmer for a seal. “I just think it’s a freak[incident]. It’s something that’s part of nature – except it was one of us. It’s just devastating,” he said.
The fatality has shaken beachgoers. A local surfer visited Little Bay on Thursday to pay her respects to the deceased and his family.
She said she would continue to surf,but said the death was a stark reminder “that the ocean does not belong to humans and that it’s important to respect Mother Nature”.
Dr Guida said it was a highly emotional event and a heartbreaking tragedy,and his first thoughts were for the victim’s family.
“It is no one’s fault,it is nature being nature. The best thing we can do is be aware of certain risks and signs.”
These included swimming at dusk and dawn,near the mouth of a river or after heavy rainfall,which increases shark activity.
“If seabirds are hovering around ... water and dipping in,there’s possibly a bait ball there. Where there’s a bait ball of fish,there will probably be sharks as well.”
These fatalities are extremely rare,though. And Dr Guida called for more evidence-based initiatives that could improve beach safety and warned against any culling of sharks.
Last September,the NSW government announced nearly $22 million in funding for increased use of drones,shark listening stations,tagging,nets,SMART (Shark Management Alert in Real Time) drumlines and community education as part of its shark management plan.
Then minister John Barilaro said it was world’s largest shark management program to increase beachgoer safety.
“There is no other jurisdiction in Australia or across the globe which has done as much testing and trialling of technology and approaches to mitigate shark interactions.”
On Thursday,NSW Treasurer Matt Kean said the state had a “comprehensive shark management plan”.
It was “constantly reviewed in light of changing circumstances,and I’m sure that will be the case after yesterday’s attack”,he said.
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Speaking on Thursday afternoon,NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet said the “horrific tragedy” was a reminder “to us all,[of] the fragility of life”.
“To the victim’s family and friends we extend our deepest condolences and sympathies,our thoughts and prayers and hearts are with you at this difficult time,” Mr Perrottet said.
He urged people to follow the instructions regarding beach closures and not to enter the water and said surveillance was ongoing “in tracking the shark down”.
Surf Life Saving NSW said its operation centre was advised by police “of a man missing after being observed by the rock fishers in an encounter with a shark”.
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Surf Life Saving NSW chief executive Steven Pearce said the organisation’s helicopter had arrived within minutes on Wednesday,and “there was evidence of what has been a horrific attack”.
“There was nothing they could do but patrol the area and try and locate the animal if it was still in that area,” he told 2GB radio on Thursday morning. He said critical incident support would be offered to those lifesavers “on the water,having to deal with the aftermath of this attack”.
Mr Pearce said according to witnesses and the footage,the “huge shark” was up to five metres in length.
“This is their domain and habitat and I think when we all decide to go in the water,we must understand that this is their domain,” he said.
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Surf Life Saving NSW duty officers returned to the scene at 7am with multiple jet-skis in the water and two drones in the air to assist police.
The NSW Department of Primary Industries deployed SMART drumlines from Little Bay Beach to Long Bay on Thursday morning.
“Based on footage provided by the public including eyewitness accounts,DPI shark biologists believe that a white shark,at least three metres in length,was likely responsible,” a DPI spokesperson said.
According to the department,the SMART drumlines include an anchor,two buoys and a satellite-linked GPS communications unit attached to a hook baited with sea mullet. When the bait is taken,it puts pressure on the line and releases a magnet alerting boat crews of the animal.
Council lifeguard supervisor Paul Moffat said a number of jet-skis would again patrol the area on Friday and into the weekend,and there would be a drone flying at Maroubra.
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