Ballina sharks: Stretch of coastline a happy hunting ground for great whites

A STRETCH of coastline where two surfers were recently attacked by sharks is a happy hunting ground for the marine predators.

A shark tagged off Lighthouse Beach on October 3 by Shark Smart.

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A STRETCH of coastline where two surfers were recently attacked by sharks is proving to be a happy hunting ground for the marine predators.

Twenty separate shark encounters were recorded in the same two-week period and at the same two Ballina beaches where surfers Cooper Allen, 17, and Seneca Rus, 25, were attacked.

The encounters, logged by the Department of ­Primary Industry and private shark app Dorsal, included aerial surveillance sightings, the tagging and releasing of nine sharks, and receivers picking up tagged sharks alerts.

Cooper Allen was attacked by a shark at Ballina’s Lighthouse Beach. Picture: Instagram

On September 26, Mr Allen was knocked off his board and bitten on the leg at Lighthouse Beach. Two weeks later, on Wednesday, Mr Rus was also attacked at nearby Sharpes Beach. Both surfers survived.

Across the state there were 229 shark encounters from September 1, with half of those confined to northern NSW. The DPI confirmed that since August 2015 “a total of 59 (great) whites and 15 bull sharks have been tagged as part of the North Coast Local Waters Shark Tagging Project”.

Despite the measures, there have been 14 shark ­attacks off NSW beaches in 2015 and seven this year.

Sharpes Beach statistics.

Lighthouse Beach statistics.

This week Premier Mike Baird told parliament that the government had “to prioritise human life over everything” when announcing the need for a trial of shark nets in the region.

Allan Bennetto, from Dorsal, said there had been a huge increase in the number of shark reports. “There are more eyes on the water and we’ve certainly seen a lot more activity than we’ve ever seen before, it’s been through the roof,” Mr Bennetto said.

“I suspect that is why they are looking at ­introducing nets.”

Ballina fisherman David Woods, who used to fish for sharks before restrictions came in, said he rarely saw a great white until recently.

A 3.5m shark at Lighthouse Beach seen after an attack in September. Picture: Supplied

“Ten years ago you’d be lucky to see (one), maybe you would see one every four to five years, but now you see them everywhere and what’s changed? They got protected,” Mr Woods said.

While Greens MPs, including the Member for Ballina Tamara Smith, remain opposed to netting, locals like Don Munro, president of the Lennox-Ballina Boardriders Club, said something had to happen before there was another fatality.

“The measures the DPI have put in place clearly haven’t worked and tourism and people are being hurt,” he said. “If you were planning on a holiday you’re not going to stop at Ballina, you’re going to keep driving north.

A shark tagged off Sharpes Beach on October 2. Picture: Supplied

Tagging taking place off Lighthouse Beach on October 8. Picture: Supplied

“I’d stake my life on the fact those sharks tagged are just a tiny minority of what’s out there. My daughter and I saw a really huge shark within three metres of us ­recently.

“I told Mike Baird if the next fatality was a kid, his head would roll and I think that’s the straw that broke the camel’s back.”

Ballina Mayor David Wright said he was against shark nets but if the community supported them he would “go along with it”.

However he feared the many activists in the area would wreak havoc on netting.