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Australia Dozens of beaches closed after fourth beach closure and people urged to stay away from the ocean shark attack Report within 48 hours.
The latest incident occurred on Tuesday morning near Plomo Point on the New South Wales mid-north coast, where a 39-year-old surfer was bitten by a shark while surfing near a national park campsite.
The man suffered minor injuries and was taken to a hospital in stable condition, according to the local health district.
The most recent attack occurred in Shark incident series pass through Sydney Water levels have fallen in the area and surrounding coastline since Sunday, prompting police, lifeguards and maritime authorities to warn that ocean conditions remain dangerous after days of heavy rain.
Steven Pearce, chief executive of Surf Life Saving NSW, an organization that promotes safe coastal enjoyment in New South Wales and the ACT, said the current water quality along much of the coastline was unsafe and urged people to avoid swimming altogether.
“If anyone wants to surf anywhere on the northern beaches this morning, please think again,” Pearce told the ABC.
“Our water quality is too poor for bull shark activity. We have two people in hospital with serious injuries this morning. Go to your local swimming pool as we advise the beach is unsafe at this stage.”
NSW SharkSmart, the government’s comprehensive program to reduce the risk of shark bites, confirmed a “shark incident” had occurred at Point Plomer just after 10am on Tuesday, with lifeguards and drone surveillance deployed in the area. The beach between Town Beach and Crescent Point is closed as a precaution.
A 12-year-old boy was seriously injured after being bitten by a shark near Nelson Park on Sydney Harbor on Sunday afternoon. The boy, who was swimming with friends near a popular ledge, remains in hospital with serious injuries to his legs.
The boy was rescued from the water by a friend, who then applied a tourniquet to stop the bleeding, police said. NSW Police later warned that salty conditions in the harbor caused by heavy rainfall and runoff had reduced visibility and increased the risk of shark encounters.
An 11-year-old surfer survived being bitten several times by a shark on his surfboard at Dee Why Beach on Sydney’s northern beaches on Monday. The beach was closed, warning signs erected and patrols launched, but no further sharks were sighted.
Later that day, a 27-year-old man was bitten by a shark while surfing at Manly Beach and was taken to hospital in a critical condition. All beaches in Sydney’s northern beaches council area have since been closed until at least Thursday.
Scientists say recent weather conditions have created an environment that increases the likelihood of shark activity near the coast.
Professor Judy Rumer, a marine biologist at James Cook University, said heavy rainfall and warm water draw fish to coastal areas, attracting predators.
“Storms and river outflows create flood plumes that carry nutrients and fish into coastal waters, attracting prey species and, in turn, predators such as sharks,” she said.
“Bull sharks are particularly comfortable moving in and out of estuaries and turbid coastal waters after heavy rains.”
Queensland University of Technology shark behavior expert Dr Victoria Camilleri-Ashe said climate warming was also extending the time sharks spent in coastal areas.
“Warmer water temperatures are causing sharks to spend more time at higher latitudes and stay longer at summer resorts,” she said, adding that this long-term overlap with human activity increases the chances of encounters.
According to conservation data, about 20 shark attacks are recorded in Australia each year, with the average death toll being less than three. However, authorities are urging people to adhere to beach closures and avoid swimming in murky water, especially after heavy rain.