Bondi Protected Shark Killed In Net

[mrmoshe]

Bondi protected shark killed in net

A three-metre long grey nurse shark - listed as being critically endangered in NSW - died in a shark net off Bondi Beach.

The discovery was made by the Bondi Rescue TV crew yesterday.

At first the crew thought the shark - measuring just under three metres - was in the process of delivering a pup.

But an expert on board the crew's boat said the shark would have injured itself thrashing to free itself after being snared in the net.

The east coast grey nurse shark is listed as a critically endangered species and was the first shark species in the world to be protected by government legislation, says the Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts.

The crew were filming when they came across the shark about 150 metres off Ben Buckler, at the north end of Bondi Beach.

The grey nurse - a species not known to be dangerous - was dead and floating on the surface, not far from a popular snorkelling spot.

Martin Baker, a producer on the TV show, said the film crew made the discovery yesterday afternoon.

"At first we thought it was a dead body," he said. "Then we realised it was a big shark.

"Obviously ... a big shark floating on the surface is not very inspiring to the swimmers."

The film crew contacted the shark net maintenance boat, Sea Rogue, which collected the shark's corpse this morning.

Increased shark activity on the NSW coast is normal for this time of year, the NSW National Parks Association says.

This week, a South Australian man surfing near Newcastle survived a shark bite on his right buttock, becoming the third person in NSW to have a brush with a shark in the past two months.

The attack on 31-year-old Ben Morcom followed dozens of reports of increased shark activity at popular NSW beaches, including those in Sydney, Newcastle and Byron Bay.

NPA spokeswoman Valerie Taylor said: "There's always a record number of sightings at this time of year ... and it's when the school fish go up the coast and the sharks follow them.

"There's probably more people in the water now than there used to be and the school fish and the sharks are coming in closer to the coastal areas, particularly off beaches."

Ms Taylor said sharks used their mouths to feel and Tuesday's attack probably involved an inquisitive bull shark.

"It sounds very much like a bull shark to me," she said.

She said there were recent bull shark sightings in the area.

The shark is dragged aboard Sea Rogue off Bondi.

Photo: Peter Rae

[double pluggers]

that will be the scientific basis for a new marine park around bondi now,or at least a long term study of the benefits of one undoubtably paid for with our fishing licences.

[james7]

Ms Taylor said sharks used their mouths to feel and Tuesday's attack probably involved an inquisitive bull shark.

"It sounds very much like a bull shark to me," she said.

She said there were recent bull shark sightings in the area.

I was wondering if anyone has seen many bull sharks in the Sydney area. (i.e. Hawkesbury, The Harbour, Botany Bay/Georges, The Hacking)

Has anyone ever caught a bull shark?

Cheers