Shark removed from rock wall at Ballina

AN East Ballina man got more than he bargained for when he took a visitor for a tour of Ballina.

A dead dusky whaler shark hauled up the rocks on North Wall. Picture: Contributed

Monday 4.34pm: PETER Coan from East Ballina got more than he bargained for when he took his Canberra visitor Greg Jepson for a tour of the North Wall and Lighthouse Beach.

"I was showing my Canberra visitor (old mate Greg Jepsen) the North Wall and lighthouse Beach, extolling the virtues of this area as Australia's shark capital," Mr Coan said.

"Lo an behold, some people from Fisheries were landing a dusky whaler shark that had been washed up and lodged in the hanbars and rocks.

A dead dusky whaler shark hauled up the rocks on North Wall. Picture: Contributed

"It was about 3 metres long and very heavy, needing five or six people to drag it up and load it onto a trolley to be taken away for post mortem examination and research."

Peter Coan watched as a dead shark was removed from North Wall. Picture: Contributed

 

Sunday 5.09pm: A PHOTO of a shark carcass found washed up on the rocks near a popular surfing spot at Ballina has stirred community debate.

About 11am Sunday, Ballina Happens page administrator Dan Webber posted several photos of the 2.5m shark he found at North Wall.

"A dead shark has found its way onto the rocks at North Wall," Mr Webber's post read.

"Hopefully, the authorities will leave it there so its rotting carcass can deter others from the area."

Mr Webber, a 52-year-old surfer from East Ballina, said he posted the photo to stimulate conversation about shark mitigation options on the North Coast.

Two people have been attacked by a shark at Ballina, with surfer Tadashi Nakahara mauled to death by a great white nearby at Speeds, in 2015.

"The conversation is too important for us to not try to understand each others point of view," Mr Webber said.

"I don't think we've made a lot of progress in our community in terms of learning.

"What I'm hoping to do is to help people in the community to raise the standard of conversation.

"But it's a bit of a problem because people are abusing each other."

A dead shark washed up on the rocks at North Wall. Picture: Contributed / Ballina Happens

A self-professed cull-supporter, Mr Webber said "to see a shark there on the wall is certainly a reminder of what's out there".

"It's pointless of me to discuss the benefit of culling, no-one cares enough to be open enough to that suggestion.

"If it were up to me I would kill every shark that posed a threat to human life even if it pushed the animals to the brinks of extinction.

"That infuriates everyone that loves sharks.

"I'm trying hard to protect young people surfing."

Mr Webber praised World Champion surfer Kelly Slater's recent call for a cull east of Madagascar at Reunion Island.

"I think it was great that he came out and expressed a human emotion not just because he's just such a popular figures, but because he's a popular figure who has been a promoter of environmental issues," Mr Webber said.

"You would think environmentalists would reconsider their position." 

A dead shark washed up on the rocks at North Wall. Picture: Contributed / Ballina Happens

Readers debated whether the shark was caught by a fishermen before it being left discarded on the rocks or if the shark beached itself on the rocks.

"This is more then likely an act of (an) amature (sic) fisho who's catching his limit and not limiting his catch," Leo Christensen wrote.

"Catching a shark is not something to be proud of."

Drongo Lnidne quipped back: "Why not be vegan?".

According to the Shark Institute, sharks strand, or beach themselves, with some frequency in certain coastal areas.

This phenomenon is seen in other marine creatures as well, and is particularly common in dolphins and small whales.

A dead shark washed up on the rocks at North Wall. Picture: Contributed / Ballina Happens

Originally published as Shark removed from rock wall at Ballina