Western Australia Issues Rare Kill Order After Fatal Shark Attack

A rare catch-and-kill order has been issued for a great white shark off the coast of Western Australia.

This follows a man being killed while on a morning swim at Sorrento Beach in Perth's north on Friday. The swimmer's body has not yet been found. Authorities state that beaches along the state's coast, including in the capital Perth, will remain closed until at least Sunday. The search for the shark continues. The incident is the second shark attack in Western Australia this week and the third fatal attack in the state this year.

The swimmer has been identified as 63-year-old Greg O'Neill by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). O'Neill's family stated he loved the ocean and was known as a passionate swimmer, sports lover, dedicated worker and an all-round generous, witty guy. Witness Jacqui Rapaic told the ABC that two men were swimming, but only one made it back to shore, and she saw a pool of blood in the water.

Another witness told WAtoday she saw the man being mauled as the shark tossed him around like a fish. Members of the public reported seeing a 2.5m-long (8ft 2in) shark around the same time. Authorities in Perth's Joondalup area, where Sorrento is located, closed all beaches as a precautionary measure until at least midday on Sunday.

Pictures on Saturday showed the coastline being patrolled by a police boat and helicopter. Catch-and-kill orders are rare and controversial in Australia, where great white sharks are a protected species. WA Fisheries Minister Jackie Jarvis said she took the extraordinary step of issuing the order after the shark was spotted by water police on Saturday morning.

The shark was positively identified as the shark involved in the incident. Jarvis authorized fisheries officers to destroy the shark if it could be captured due to the exceptional circumstances of the attack and the hazard posed by the shark. Capture gear, a type of drum line, was deployed on Friday to catch the untagged great white. The equipment could not be deployed on Saturday due to unfavorable weather and choppy sea conditions.