Baby shark filmed darting through shallow waters at Torquay

A baby shark has been filmed swimming in shallow waters at Torquay where families with young children were playing, prompting fresh safety warnings.

A baby shark has been captured on video swimming in shallow water at Torquay.

Video footage posted to social media showed the small shark, believed to be a gummy shark, darting in the shallows at Fishermans Beach near Salty Dog cafe on Tuesday morning.

Gemma Morganti, who captured the footage, wrote: “hey guys, baby swimming out the front of the sailing club to the right of salty dog.

“Its (sic) swam off now but just keep in mind.”

Another woman said her grandchildren, including an inquisitive 18-month-old, were in the water at the time.

“While this is obviously the shark’s domain, it’s another reminder to stay safe and water wise,” she wrote.

By midmorning, the beach was quiet.

There was no sign of the animal and only a handful of beachgoers were enjoying the sunshine, some walking dogs and one even going for a swim.

Some locals said the baby shark was the third shark spotted in the area over the last few days.

In April, surfers were evacuated from Point Roadknight, near Anglesea, after a great white shark sighting.

In March, a pair of fishermen came face-to-face with a 5m long great white shark at Barwon Heads.

Avid fishermen Nick Powell and his father Peter told this masthead they were about a kilometre from the Bluff at Thirteenth Beach when they were confronted by the “beast” in 20m deep water and captured the encounter on camera.

Shark attacks in Victoria are uncommon, and there have been no fatalities in the state for over 35 years.

There have been two fatal shark attacks in NSW in recent months - with surfer Mercury Psillakis, 57, killed by a shark at Sydney’s Northern Beaches in September and 25-year-old Swiss tourist Olivia Mulheim killed on the mid north coast last month.

To minimise risk, swim with a friend or family member, and avoid swimming after rain or at dusk or dawn.

Originally published as Baby shark filmed darting through shallow waters at Torquay