Five great white sharks caught in NSW nets
Shark caught near sight of mauling. Photo: AAP
Two days after nets were installed to prevent shark attacks, five great whites have been trapped on the NSW north coast.
Department of Primary Industry researchers say the sharks, including a 3.2m female, were snagged on smart drumlines.
The 3.2m shark was trapped at Sharpes Beach, north of Ballina, close to where surfer Seneca Rus, 25, was attacked in October.
NSWDPI shark team advise 3.2m White Shark tagged and released off Sharpes Beach, Ballina. Shark #70 pic.twitter.com/2ftXqcAraX
— SharkSmart (@NSWSharkSmart) December 10, 2016
The shark was tagged and released as part of the coastal surveillance program.
She was the largest shark caught yesterday by Primary Industry researchers Dr Paul Butcher and Dr Matt Broadhurst. Two net inspections are carried out each day.
Other sharks caught were a 3m great white at Lennox Head, another measuring 2.7m at South Ballina, and two at Evans Head measuring 2.5m and 2.3m.
Primary Industries Minister Niall Blair told News Corp: “The last 48 hours have been busy for our researchers. Capturing, tagging and releasing five sharks in one morning is significant by any measure.”
Great team work from NSWDPI aerial team and surf lifesavers to herd 3.5m White Shark at the Pass, Byron out to sea #Sharksmart pic.twitter.com/Pfy3S2tPjR
— SharkSmart (@NSWSharkSmart) December 10, 2016
There have been six shark attacks so far this year on the north and mid-north coasts.
The first 10 of an additional 85 smart drumlines were placed in the water on Thursday.
While traditional drumlines are known to kill sharks, sharks have a better chance of surviving smart drumlines because they issue an alert to allow the sharks to be tagged and released alive.
