A large shark roaming the beaches of Newcastle was spotted chasing a dolphin. Photo: Peter Stoop, Newcastle Herald
It’s big, but is it the biggest?
Newcastle Herald photographer Peter Stoop has snapped some frames of a “very large shark” cruising off Burwood Beach in Newcastle on Thursday only minutes after onlookers watched on from land as an injured dolphin was being chased offshore.
As Stoop was photographing the shark from a helicopter, which was described as being more than three metres long, a second large shark was seen biting another dolphin near the breakwall on the northern edge of Nobbys Beach.
Newcastle’s beaches, including Noddys (above), will be closed for a record seven days. Photo: Darren Pateman
The two shark sightings have pushed the closure of Newcastle’s beaches to a record seventh day. The earliest the beaches will open is Saturday, but the council wants at least 24 hours of no shark sightings before reopening beaches.
Lifeguards have confirmed that both sharks were “very large”, but could not get a good enough look to confirm whether either shark may have been the five-metre, 1700kg goliath which has roamed the city’s beaches since Saturday. If confirmed, it will be the biggest shark spotted in the Newcastle area.
Lifeguards on jetskis powered from Nobbys down to the southern end of Merewether and off Burwood beaches after 2pm on Thursday following reports that a very large shark was feeding off something.
Swimmers avoid Burwood Beach where a shark was spotted, opting for the nearby lagoon instead. Photo: Peter Stoop, Newcastle Herald
There have been reports that it may have been a 2.5-metre long bronze whaler.
After the lifeguard confirmed the Burwood shark, he was called back to Nobbys where he confirmed that the other large shark had fed on a dolphin, leaving part of the carcass behind as the jetski got close.
“Sightings of this shark have been across all beaches, from Stockton to Merewether,” the council said.
A dolphin lays on the seabed after a presumed shark attack. Photo: Peter Stoop, Newcastle Herald
“It is not safe for anyone to be in the water, including board riders, even close to shore, as sharks are known to move into the surf zone, hunting prey between where the surf breaks and the shoreline.”
Beaches from Stockton to Redhead remain closed. Blacksmiths, Caves and Catherine Hill Bay beaches remain are open.
Shark attacks and sightings in the past four months
– NEWCASTLE, NSW, Jan – Five-metre great white spotted numerous times off the Newcastle coast, closing beaches for a record five days straightem
– BONDI, NSW, Jan – Sharks sighted twice in four days prompting lifeguards to temporarily close Sydney’s most famous beachem
– ALBANY, WA, Dec – 17-year-old Jay Muscat attacked and killed by great white while spearfishing at Cheynes Beachem
– PERTH, WA, Dec – Catch and kill order issued for elusive white pointer seen over two weeks near popular Warnbro Beach that was closed for daysem
– ADELAIDE, SA, Dec – Shark sighted at Glenelg Beach, forcing swimmers out of waterem
– PORT DOUGLAS, Qld, Dec – 18-year-old Daniel Smith mauled and killed in front of mates spearfishing at Rudder Reef, near Port Douglasem
– PERTH, WA, Dec – Cameron Pearman, 13, bitten by two-metre shark while surfing at Port Bouvard, suffering minor leg injuriesem
– BONDI, NSW, Nov – Two great white sharks discovered dead in nets at Bondi Beach within a weekem
– PORT MACQUARIE, NSW, Oct – Competitive surfer Ryan Hunt, 20, bitten on foot by shark at Wallabi Point, kicks it away.
source: smh.com.au
STUDIO 3 NEWCASTLE AUSTRALIA 