Sydney shark attack: Fishing at Little Bay may have contributed to attack, experts say

A popular activity which attracts all walks of life to Little Bay may have increased the risks of yesterday’s horror shark attack, experts say.

A new theory has been put forward to potentially explain the cause of the horror shark attack which claimed a swimmer’s life in Sydney yesterday.

The secluded beach in Sydney’s eastern suburb of Little Bay is loved by locals for its abundance of wildlife and calm waters, however, these two factors may have increased the likelihood of a shark attack, drawing the animal closer to shore.

Speaking to news.com.au recently, Recreational Fishing Alliance of NSW president Stan Konstantaras said the area was currently populated with high quantities of “big king fish, bonito, tailor” which swim around the rock platforms at the north and south end of the beach.

Anglers are commonly seen on the rocky platforms around Little Bay. Picture: John Grainger.

The theory was also posited by marine biologist from the Humane Society International, Lawrence Chlebeck, who suggested the fishing that occurs in the Little Bay area could have lured the shark into the bay.

“If individuals, fishermen were in the area and berleying, bait in water increases the risk of attracting a shark,” Mr Chlebeck told The Daily Telegraph.

He said it was also possible the shark could have mistaken the swimmer for a seal.

“But we do know with great whites, as this attack is expected to be … it could well have been a case of mistaken identity.”

The vicious attack has rocked the community of Little Bay. Picture: Christian Gilles/NCA NewsWire

‘Particularly nasty’

While sharks rarely attack humans – with Sydney’s last shark attack occurring 59 years ago in 1963 – Wednesday’s shark attack has particularly baffled experts.

In graphic footage recorded by fisherman just metres away, the shark is seen near the swimmer and making contact a second time by dragging the victim underwater.

Sydney University academic and author of the book Flaws: Shark Bites and Emotional Public Policymaking, Dr Chris Pepin-Neff, said this was “incredibly rare,” doubling down on the “mistaken theory” identity posed by Mr Chlebeck – however, he said it didn’t explain why the shark went for a second bite.

“It’s not crazy for sharks to bite humans thinking we might be prey,” said Dr Pepin-Neff, speaking to news.com.au.

“They test out things all the time but 80 per cent of incidents are hit-and-run. Sharks will recognise humans as a ‘biological failure’ as we take more energy than we give so we are not a prey item. It’s a bite and release.”

Dr Pepin-Neff said deaths from shark attacks more commonly result from blood loss, over the injuries survived from multiple bites.

“What’s exceptionally rare is for a shark to bite a human and then to bite them again,” he said.

NSW Fisheries were seen dropping drum lines off Little Bay beach the day after the fatal shark attack occurred. Picture: John Grainger

Victim yet to be identified

Although authorities soon located human remains in the water at Little Bay beach, police have yet to formally identify the deceased man.

However, Maroubra MP Michael Daley said the man was a frequent swimmer in the area.

“I understand that the person was not local to the area but came here and swam here nearly every day,” he said, speaking to ABC News Breakfast.

Emergency services were called to the area near Buchan Point, Malabar, after receiving a report that a shark attacked a swimmer in the water just after 4.30pm.

While authorities were able to locate the human remains at around 6pm, the swimmer’s extensive wounds meant paramedics were unable to save him, a NSW Ambulance spokeswoman said.

“Unfortunately this person had suffered catastrophic injuries and there wasn’t a lot paramedics could do when we arrived,” a NSW Ambulance spokeswoman said.