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Call to report shark sightings

Posted on November 11, 2009, 4:04pm and updated on November 12, 2009 at 7:18 am

PIRSA Fisheries have called on people to report shark sightings along the South East coastline to authorities amid a spate of sightings around Adelaide.

The call follows 20 sightings being recorded on just one day, a man being attacked by a three-metre great white shark and the State Government launching a summer shark spotting plane one month earlier than usual.

Great White Pointer SharkWhile there have been no reported sightings along the South East as people begin to flock to the beach, great white sharks were sighted off the Kingston beach last year.

A shark was also seen just 200 metres off Cape Jaffa in 2007.

Professional rock lobster fishers have also being reminded to report any large shark sightings seen in the vicinity of swimmers or near shore.

“Shark sightings should be reported to the Fishwatch hotline on 1800 065 522,” a PIRSA Fisheries spokesperson said.

“Please report the area and time of the sighting and where possible the size and species of shark.”

South East Professional Fishermen’s Association president Joel Redman confirmed there have been sightings of great white sharks by fishers over the years.

“There is usually a sighting every few years; we mostly see smaller sharks,” said Mr Redman, who fishes at Southend.

Meanwhile, Port MacDonnell commercial fishing veteran Roger Cutting said he had never seen a white pointer during his 40 years as a rock lobster fisher.

But he said some white pointers had been caught off Portland.

“I’m not saying they are not there, I just haven’t seen them close to shore,” Mr Cutting said.

He believed the warmer waters off Adelaide and Port Lincoln attracted more sharks to those areas.

“I have never heard of anybody being attacked around Port MacDonnell,” Mr Cutting said.

Meanwhile, Port MacDonnell Offshore Angling Club president Paul Carrison said more sharks were being sighted because people were looking for them around Adelaide.

He said sharks had always been out there because the ocean was their home.

But he said he believed swimmers had little to fear in the Limestone Coast.

Great whites are the largest predatory fish on earth.

These monster sea creatures grow to an average of 4.6 metres in length, although specimens more than six metres and weighing up 2268kg have been recorded.

They are found in cool, coastal waters throughout the world.

There is no reliable data on the great white’s population.

Great white sharks have been fully protected in South Australia since 1997.

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