His death is likely to revive the often-heated debate about how to keep beachgoers safe in the state, with some people advocating catch-and-kill policies while others push for more shark nets.
asserted
others → revive → nets
Scientists say warmer oceans are affecting the migratory patterns of sharks, which may be contributing to a rise in attacks.
uncertain
which → say → attacks
With a hotter-than-average summer forecast, the latest attack is likely to again thrust the state's shark mitigation policies into the spotlight.
asserted
attack → thrust → spotlight
What happened?
asserted
What → happen → ?
The man who died was swimming with a friend on Friday morning at Sorrento Beach in Perth's northern suburbs, according to witnesses.
uncertain
who → die → witnesses
They later reported seeing a traumatised man emerge from the water without his companion.
asserted
man → report → companion
Witness Jacqui Rapaic described seeing blood in the water near the shoreline and a shark nearby.
asserted
Rapaic → describe → shoreline
"My friend said, 'Jacq, I think there's been a shark attack', and I looked out to the ocean, and I could see a pool of blood," she said.
uncertain
she → say → blood
Emergency services, including a police helicopter, conducted an extensive search of the area.
asserted
services → include → area
On Friday afternoon, police confirmed the swimmer "died as a result of the attack".
asserted
swimmer → confirm → attack
The victim has yet to be named.
asserted
victim → have → ?
Latest in series of shark attacks
Friday's fatality comes days after 56-year-old firefighter Mel Ismail was injured in a shark attack at a Geraldton beach, about 400 kilometres north.
asserted
Ismail → come → beach
Earlier this year Steven Mattaboni died after a shark attack off Rottnest Island and another spearfisher, Daniel Turpin, was killed near Albany a few weeks later.
asserted
spearfisher → die → Albany
The teenager was attacked while swimming in the river near the Fremantle Traffic Bridge, prompting the state government to expand its shark tagging program.
asserted
teenager → attack → program
The last time three people died in shark attacks in WA in a single year was 2020, when two people were killed off Esperance, and another person off Cable Beach in Broome.
asserted
people → die → Broome
In 2016, two people were killed within a week of each other: surfer Ben Gerring died in hospital after losing his leg in Mandurah, and nursing lecturer Doreen Collyer was killed by a suspected 5-metre shark off Mindarie.
asserted
Collyer → kill → Mindarie
In conjunction with acoustic receivers, sharks are tagged in WA to track their movements and alert the public.
asserted
sharks → tag → public
In recent years, nets have been introduced at several beaches in Perth and the regions, including Cottesloe, Coogee, Busselton, Albany, Esperance and Dunsborough.
But at least one of these barriers was permanently removed in 2020 — the one at Sorrento Beach where the swimmer was attacked on Friday.
asserted
swimmer → introduce → Friday
Weekend surf lifesaving patrols, including from the air, resumed last week at Perth beaches, but these will not become daily until September 26.
asserted
these → include → September
Other strategies include an app for shark notifications, warning sirens, and personal deterrents.
asserted
strategies → include → notifications
As shark attacks increase, some have called for protection protocols including selective culls and the reintroduction of catch-and-release drum lines to be considered.
asserted
protocols → increase → lines
New South Wales and Queensland use drum lines as part of their shark mitigation strategies.
asserted
Wales → use → strategies
In 2014, then Premier Colin Barnett introduced a controversial trial of baited drum lines, which resulted in 68 sharks being caught and then shot.
asserted
sharks → introduce → lines
The 13-week trial prompted stiff opposition from the community and marine scientists.
asserted
trial → prompt → community
The Environmental Protection Agency recommended abolishing the strategy because of “uncertainty” about its impacts on the shark population.
asserted
Agency → recommend → population
The policy has not been revisited since.
asserted
policy → revisit → ?
Premier Roger Cook has rejected calls to bring back culls and drum lines, with Fisheries Minister Jackie Jarvis recently saying WA has "one of the most comprehensive shark hazard mitigation strategies in the country".
asserted
WA → reject → country
The Aporia
