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The Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries quickly swung into action following last Thursday’s shark attack at Seven Mile Beach, deploying five SMART Drumlines.
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Within hours Primary Industries Minister Niall Blair had instructed DPI Fisheries staff to bring in the SMART Drumlines immediately.
Depending on the conditions of the day drumlines were strategically anchored about 500 metres off Booti Booti National Park, Boomerang Beach and Forster’s Main Beach from Friday until Sunday.
The drumlines are part of the State government’s $16 million strategy to better protect swimmers and surfers, in conjunction with increased drone and aerial surveillance, the DPI shark tagging program, VR4G listening stations and the Sharksmart Twitter feed and app.
At the same time, drone surveillance took place over the weekend with flights every hour over Boomerang and Blueys beaches.
Just one 2.61m female white shark was tagged and released two kilometres north of the river entrance at Tuncurry on Saturday during the weekend program.
On Monday five tagged white sharks were detected off Forster’s Main Beach and Bennets Beach, Hawks Nest, while on Sunday a 1.5 whaler shark was spotted by the drone at the northern end of Elizabeth Beach.
Australian Lifeguard Service NSW manager Brent Manieri explained the SMART drumlines were a baited hook but without the barb.
These have a minimal impact on the caught shark, he said.
Mr Manieri said an instant message was sent to members of the DPI as soon as a shark was caught.
The team tagged the caught shark and released it further out to sea.
He said past experience had demonstrated that sharks generally didn’t return for a second encounter with a drumline
Commenting on the attack, Minister for Primary Industries, Niall Blair said as we head into the summer period we understand the risk to communities is higher.
“Incidents like this one impact the whole community and we will continue to test and implement a range of technologies to protect beachgoers.”
Sixty-two-year-old Forster man, Colin Rowland was attacked by what was believed to have been a great white shark while boardriding at The Ruins in the Booti Booti National Park.
After being helped to the beach, Mr Rowland was treated by paramedics for deep lacerations to his foot and hand before being airlifted to John Hunter Hospital, Newcastle.
According to son James’ Facebook post, the 4-4.5m shark latched on to his father and launched him two metres into the air.
“It came back for three more goes but only bit him on the foot.
“He kicked it in the head and punched it ‘till it let go of him.
“We've just got him from the hospital pretty stoked his alive.”
Mr Rowland received 20 stitches.