‘Don’t’: Bull sharks spotted at popular Sydney swimming spot

Dog owners have been urged to “think twice” after multiple killer sharks were sighted at a popular Aussie swimming spot.

Dog owners have been issued a terrifying warning after multiple sharks were sighted at a popular swimming spot in Sydney’s Northern Beaches.

Footage shared by community news page, Mosman Collective, to Facebook showed three large bull sharks circling the water at the Spit West Reserve marina on Sunday – a “handy reminder” to residents “to think twice before throwing a ball or stick out for Fido”.

“A heads up for owners of dogs who like to swim at Spit West Reserve. Don’t,” the accompanying post read.

“There are bull sharks in the harbour at this time of year as the animals set up home in our warmer waters.

“Water temperature is a key predictor of their presence (20-26 degrees). When temp drops below 19, bull sharks leave Sydney Harbour and travel north to Queensland for the winter and spring.

“Don’t swim in murky water (especially after it’s been raining) and obviously don’t swim around groups of baitfish.”

Dog owners have been issued a terrifying warning after multiple sharks were sighted in a popular swimming spot in Sydney’s Northern Beaches. Picture: Mosman Collective

‘As climate change comes it’ll be warmer for longer, so it’s likely we’ll see more bull sharks in Sydney Harbour and in and around Sydney estuaries.’ Picture: Mosman Collective

Macquarie University shark expert, Professor Culum Brown, told The Sydney Morning Herald on Monday morning that beachgoers need to brace themselves for more sharks in popular swimming areas, as conditions become more hospitable due to climate change.

“The bad news, or the good news, depending on whether you like sharks or not, is that as climate change comes it’ll be warmer for longer, so it’s likely that we’ll see more bull sharks in Sydney Harbour and in and around Sydney estuaries … because of that change in (water) temperature,” Professor Brown said.

Spit Reserve West in Mosman.

“We’ve had some pretty warm winter bay temperatures over recent years, so there’s a potential for them to stay year round.”

According to the Australian Shark Incident Database, nearly all shark encounters in Sydney Harbour with humans involve bull sharks.

While several previously-tagged bull sharks have been swimming near Sydney beaches in recent days, per the SharkSmart app, Prof Brown said that swimmers were more afraid of the creatures than necessary.

“You’re far more likely to drown or have a boating accident or get swept off rocks or something like that,” he said.

Emergency services were called to Woorim Beach on Bribie Island about 4.45pm local time on Monday. Picture: 9 News

Despite the efforts of emergency services, the 17-year-old could not be saved. Picture: Facebook

Teenage girl killed in Queensland shark attack

A teenage girl was killed in a shark attack at a popular surfing beach off Bribie Island, north of Brisbane, on Monday afternoon – in the third fatal shark attack this summer.

Emergency services were called to Woorim Beach about 4.45pm local time, with authorities describing the incident as “serious”.

It’s understood the 17-year-old was swimming 100m offshore when she was bitten by the shark, sustaining life-threatening upper body injuries.

Despite the efforts of emergency services, she could not be saved.

“The female sustained life-threatening injuries and succumbed to those injuries just after 5pm,” Queensland Police said in a statement.

– with NCA NewsWire

Originally published as ‘Don’t’: Bull sharks spotted at popular Sydney swimming spot