Port MacDonnell in shock as first shark attack since 1952 claims life of Duncan Craw, 32

What took Victorian snorkeller Duncan Craw? In Port MacDonnell a community remains in shock, searching for answers in and out of the water after the first shark attack in 60 years.

Emergency services were on the scene at Port MacDonnell searching for a missing snorkeller on Thursday evening who was later revealed to be the victim of a shark attack. Picture: Jessica Ball

The death of a snorkeller in a suspected shark attack of the coast of Port MacDonnell has rocked the tight-knit, South East community.

Less than 24 hours after wife Taylia lost sight of him, Duncan Craw’s destroyed wetsuit was discovered on Friday with police revealing he likely the victim of the first attack in the region since 1952.

Keen fisherman and founder of the South East Amateur Surf Fishing Club, Graeme Ploenges said it was the first attack he had heard of his lifetime on the waters.

Police and Fisheries SA were on the scene at Port MacDonnell searching for a missing snorkeller on Thursday evening who later revealed to be the victim of a shark attack. Picture: Jessica Ball

He said sightings at Portland or Cape Jaffa were not uncommon and bronze and seven gills sharks occasionally came up to fishing boats.

“I was in a bit of a shock,” Mr Ploenges said.

“There’s been a few sightings over the years, most of them have been on the Browns Bay side of Port Mac.

“I guess they’re here all the time but just whether you see them or not.”

Mr Ploenges said it was about coexisting in the environment and believed people would carry on.

“I love the boat fishing, it hasn’t deterred me at all from going out deep, I was at the back reef last night just before dark and caught four gummy sharks,” he said.

Paul Bigg was snorkelling 20km down the coast at the time of the attack and said the tragic news hit too close to home.

Paul Bigg from Mount Gambier often snorkels at Port MacDonnell. Picture: Paul Bigg

“I was out snorkelling at Blackfellows Caves out the back of the reef at the same time,” Mr Bigg said.

“The incident certainly made me not want to go back out there this long weekend.

“I also felt a bit anxious about knowing that there are that a big harmful shark was in close enough to snorkel to.”

The Mount Gambier man often snorkels up to a 1km offshore and has spotted wobbegong sharks and Port Jackson sharks which he described as “puppy dogs of sharks”.

“I’ve seen plenty of sharks while skin diving, but none that I would consider dangerous in the sense that it would actively try to bite me,” he said.

“There’s always a thought in the back of my head of ‘what if’, and ‘what would I do if’ and so on.

“Statistically the chance of being attacked is extremely low, but I know that my risk is slightly higher than most due to diving so often and the fact that I dress like a seal when I dive with my dark wetsuit and flippers.

“I could understand a shark mistaking me for a seal, but again the chances are minimal.”

Shark ecologist, Flinders University Associate Professor Charlie Huveneers, leader of the Southern Shark Ecology Group, said there had been limited regional studies on sharks around the Port MacDonnell area other than on shortfin mako and blue sharks, which are pelagic sharks mostly occurring offshore.

Shark ecologist, Flinders University Associate Professor Charlie Huveneers. Picture: Supplied

“Out of the main species considered to be potentially dangerous only white sharks occur off Port MacDonnell,” Prof Huveneers said.

“Bronze whalers also occur off Port MacDonnell but are not typically considered to be dangerous, although there have been some records of bites from bronze whalers.”

While reports of shark sightings and interactions may be increasing, Prof Huveneers explained these trends do not always reflect changes in shark population which are overall in decline.

“In terms of white sharks, scientific evidence currently suggest a stable population,” he said.

“Some modelling has suggested a theoretical small increase, and you would expect the population of a species protected for over 20 years, like white sharks, to show some signs of recovery.

“However, if white shark population has increased it is not to the extent of what media or sightings might suggest.”