Byron Bay’s beaches were closed on Wednesday afternoon after a local fisherman had a close encounter with a shark, believed to be a Great White.
Local media reported the incident happened when angler Robbie Graham was attempting to reel in a tuna he had caught near Julian Rocks.
‘This huge shark about 4.5m came launching into the side of the boat and knocked him off his feet into the water,’ his friend Hoss McGrath told APN Media, adding it was almost as long as the boat Mr Graham was fishing from.
A Surf Life Saving media spokesperson was unable to confirm the exact details of the Byron Bay shark attack but told Echonetdaily Byron Bay’s beaches had been closed from around midday on Wednesday for the remainder of the day.
Following a spate of shark attacks on the north coast in the past year, local mayors will attend a meeting with shark experts on March 18 organised by Ballina mayor David Wright to examine non lethal options for deterring sharks.
No further sightings have been reported.
Isn’t Julian Rocks in a marine sanctuary zone? If so, wouldn’t ‘Attempting to reel in tuna near Julian Rocks’ be illegal? Who is policing our Marine Sanctuary? Looks like it’s the sharks!
Hey Tracy, the man was fishing just out of the marine sanctuary zone, approximately 300m-400m north west of Julian rocks.
Good comment Tracey.
Dear Ed.
What is happening in the oceans because of fishing and pollution is catastrophic.
I believe that the sharks are highly intelligent and that the sharks behaviour is telling us to look at our own.
If you ask any marine scientist they will tell you that things are dire and getting worse in the oceans.
You could use your editorial power to bring this to everyones attention. and bring some balance to this story. and tell it from the perspective of the damage our actions have caused and are causing to other life forms.
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In the Bay we could join the dots between the raw salmon and tuna sushi and the shark attack…………….
We need to wake up and Change our live choices which support destructive behaviour and see things from the perspective of the other living Beings on this Earth.
Thanks for the echo net daily
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Are the sharks attracted to the beaches because – having recognised the BSC having a staff swimming party at Main Beach – they recognise their family and seek to fraternise ?