Deadly Shark Attack Prompts Rare Catch-and-Kill Order in Western Australia

A rare order has been issued to capture and kill a great white shark after a 63-year-old man was fatally attacked while swimming at Sorrento Beach in Perth, Western Australia.

The swimmer, identified as Greg O’Neill, was attacked close to the shoreline on Friday morning. His body has not yet been recovered, with police, water teams and helicopters continuing the search. The attack was witnessed by beachgoers, with one witness reporting seeing blood in the water after two men entered the sea but only one returned to shore.

O’Neill’s family described him as a passionate swimmer, sports enthusiast and dedicated worker who was known for his generosity and sense of humour.

Authorities closed beaches across Perth’s northern suburbs following the attack. Beaches in the City of Joondalup, from Marmion to Iluka, remained closed on Saturday while authorities assessed the situation and continued searching for the victim and the shark.

Witnesses reported seeing a shark in the area around the time of the attack. Authorities later identified the animal believed to be responsible as a great white.

Western Australia Fisheries Minister Jackie Jarvis authorised fisheries officers to capture and destroy the shark if it is caught, describing the decision as an extraordinary step.

Jarvis said the shark had been positively identified, remained in the area after the fatal attack and was considered an ongoing danger. She also said the capture could assist authorities in recovering potential coronial evidence.

The shark had not been captured by Saturday. Authorities had deployed capture equipment, similar to drum lines normally used to tag sharks, but unfavourable weather and rough seas prevented the equipment from being set up on Saturday.

Jarvis stressed that the order did not amount to a wider shark cull. Great white sharks are protected, and she said a widespread culling programme would not be appropriate.

She said the government would instead examine additional measures to reduce the risk to swimmers, including increased use of drones and shark tagging.

More than 300 sharks have been tagged in Western Australia, including more than 200 great white sharks. The state’s existing shark safety measures also include warning systems, beach patrols, shark enclosures and personal deterrents.

The fatality has revived a long-running debate in Western Australia over how best to protect people from shark attacks.

The state previously introduced a controversial shark culling programme in 2014 following a series of attacks. The policy generated large protests and opposition from environmental groups and marine scientists before being abandoned.

Friday’s attack was the third fatal shark attack recorded in Western Australia this year and the second shark incident in the state within the same week.

On Monday, 56-year-old firefighter Mel Ismail was seriously injured in a shark attack while surfing near Geraldton, about 400km north of Perth. He survived but suffered severe injuries to his leg.

Earlier this year, Steven Mattaboni died following a shark attack near Rottnest Island, while spearfisher Daniel Turpin was killed near Albany.

The latest death is also part of a broader pattern of fatal shark attacks across Australia. A 12-year-old boy died after being bitten in Sydney Harbour in January, while three divers were killed in separate incidents between May and June. Australia has recorded five fatal shark attacks so far this year.

Authorities are continuing the search for O’Neill’s remains and the shark as beaches remain closed in the affected area.