Third fatal shark attack in WA this year renews debate over beach safety

The death of a swimmer at Perth’s Sorrento Beach is Western Australia’s third fatal shark attack this year, according to ABC News. The incident has revived debate over culls, nets and other mitigation measures as scientists link changing shark movements to warmer oceans.

The death of a swimmer at Sorrento Beach in Perth has renewed debate over how Western Australia should protect people from shark attacks. ABC News reported that the fatality was the state’s 24th in 26 years and the third this year, bringing the number of deaths in a single year to a level not seen since 2020.

The swimmer was in the water with a friend on Friday morning when witnesses saw a traumatised man emerge without his companion. Witness Jacqui Rapaic told ABC News she saw blood near the shoreline and a shark nearby. Police and emergency services, including a helicopter, searched the area before police confirmed the swimmer had died as a result of the attack.

The fatality followed the serious injury of 56-year-old firefighter Mel Ismail in a shark attack at a Geraldton beach days earlier. Earlier this year, Steven Mattaboni died off Rottnest Island and spearfisher Daniel Turpin was killed near Albany, according to ABC News. In 2023, 16-year-old Stella Berry was killed in the Swan River, prompting the state government to expand its shark-tagging program.

The latest death is expected to intensify disagreement over mitigation. Some advocates support catch-and-kill policies or selective culls, while others want more shark nets. ABC News said scientists believe warmer oceans are influencing shark migratory patterns, potentially contributing to increased attacks. National data also show that the average annual number of verified bite incidents has risen in each decade since the 1950s.

Western Australia currently uses tagging and acoustic receivers to track sharks and issue warnings. Nets have been installed at several beaches, but the barrier at Sorrento was permanently removed in 2020. Other measures include notification apps, warning sirens, personal deterrents and aerial patrols, although daily weekend surf patrols at Perth beaches are not scheduled to begin until September 26.

Premier Roger Cook has rejected calls to restore culls and drum lines. Fisheries Minister Jackie Jarvis said WA had one of the country’s most comprehensive shark hazard mitigation strategies. A 2014 trial of baited drum lines caught and killed 68 sharks, but ABC News reported that the policy faced strong opposition from community members and marine scientists before the approach shifted toward tagging and tracking.