While the Gold Coast and surfing communities mourn the loss of Rob Pedretti, who was killed by a shark on Sunday morning at Salt Beach, Kingscliff, a NSW Department of Primary Industries Shark Biologist has assessed photographs and confirmed a white shark was responsible for the fatal attack.
The Department continues to work with Surf Life Saving NSW and NSW Police to monitor the area and provide any technical advice and resources as required.
Beaches between Kingscliff and Cabarita have been cleared of swimmers and surfers by NSW Police and the local Surf Lifesavers.
The beaches will remain closed for 24 hours.
There is a real-time shark listening station located opposite the Kingscliff Surf Life Saving Club.
No tagged sharks were detected on this station today, or the Byron Bay Shark Listening station located around 50km south at Clarkes Beach.
Beachgoers are urged to follow safety advice from Surf Life Saving NSW and by visiting the Department of Primary Industry’s website www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/sharks and the SharkSmart app.
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
