A fourth shark attack in just 48 hours has left a surfer injured on Australia's New South Wales (NSW) coastline. The 39-year-old man suffered a wound to his chest after a shark bit his surfboard near the Point Plomer campground, about 450km north of Sydney.
This latest incident follows three other shark attacks in Sydney over the past two days, leaving residents and authorities on high alert. All beaches in Sydney's northern area will remain closed until further notice, said police.
Experts say bull sharks are likely responsible for most of the recent attacks. These sharks can be found in both freshwater and saltwater environments and are considered one of the few shark species that pose a significant threat to humans.
The attacks come as Australia experiences heavy rainfall, which has decreased water quality and visibility. Authorities warn that this can concentrate fish that bull sharks prey on downstream in rivers and beaches, making them more likely to be found in areas where people swim or surf.
While shark attacks are rare, the recent series of incidents in NSW is highly unusual. "This series of bites from bull sharks in such a short period of time is highly unusual," said Dr Daryl McPhee, an associate professor of environmental science at Bond University.
The incidents have sparked debate over the use of controversial shark nets in Australia. While some argue that they can reduce the risk of shark attacks, others claim that they are ineffective and cause more harm to marine life than good.
In a recent fatal attack, a woman was killed by a shark on a beach in NSW. The incident has revived the debate over shark netting, with some calling for their use to be increased while others argue that they should be banned altogether.
Despite the risks, many people continue to enjoy surfing and swimming in Australia's coastal waters. Authorities are urging residents and visitors to exercise caution when swimming or surfing in areas where sharks have been spotted.
The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of shark conservation efforts and the need for continued research into these powerful predators.
This latest incident follows three other shark attacks in Sydney over the past two days, leaving residents and authorities on high alert. All beaches in Sydney's northern area will remain closed until further notice, said police.
Experts say bull sharks are likely responsible for most of the recent attacks. These sharks can be found in both freshwater and saltwater environments and are considered one of the few shark species that pose a significant threat to humans.
The attacks come as Australia experiences heavy rainfall, which has decreased water quality and visibility. Authorities warn that this can concentrate fish that bull sharks prey on downstream in rivers and beaches, making them more likely to be found in areas where people swim or surf.
While shark attacks are rare, the recent series of incidents in NSW is highly unusual. "This series of bites from bull sharks in such a short period of time is highly unusual," said Dr Daryl McPhee, an associate professor of environmental science at Bond University.
The incidents have sparked debate over the use of controversial shark nets in Australia. While some argue that they can reduce the risk of shark attacks, others claim that they are ineffective and cause more harm to marine life than good.
In a recent fatal attack, a woman was killed by a shark on a beach in NSW. The incident has revived the debate over shark netting, with some calling for their use to be increased while others argue that they should be banned altogether.
Despite the risks, many people continue to enjoy surfing and swimming in Australia's coastal waters. Authorities are urging residents and visitors to exercise caution when swimming or surfing in areas where sharks have been spotted.
The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of shark conservation efforts and the need for continued research into these powerful predators.
... 4 shark attacks in 2 days is insane! 
But let's not jump to conclusions just yet, experts say bull sharks are the likely culprits and these guys can be found in both freshwater & saltwater environments. It's all about the weather conditions rn - heavy rainfall's making the water murky, which might attract more sharks to beaches where people swim or surf 
... some say they're effective, while others claim they're a total disaster for marine life 
. I get why people are worried, but let's not forget there are plenty of beaches in Australia that are still safe to enjoy 
.
... we need more research into these amazing creatures & ways to protect them & their habitats 
. Let's keep it calm, stay vigilant, and respect our coastal waters 
. First it's the guy who got killed by a shark on the beach, now this bloke is injured and I'm sure there'll be another one soon. Australia's coastline is like a shark's playground or something. And of course, bull sharks are always to blame 
. And don't even get me started on those shark nets... what's the point of 'em? Just gonna scare some fish away or hurt some marine life, I guess 
. It's always a gamble when you're swimming or surfing in these waters, but at least authorities are trying to warn people and stuff 
, all these weird rock formations and stuff. i swear, it's like the earth is trying to create its own version of lord of the rings or something. anyway, back to sharks... yeah, i guess bull sharks are pretty scary 
. i don't know if i'd want to do that though, i mean, what if the shark thinks you're food? 
.
️. I'm all for keeping our beaches safe, but can't we find a better solution than those bloody nets? 
It's not about whether shark nets are a good idea or not, it's about keepin' our people safe. We need to be thinkin' about how we can protect the coastlines without killin' all the marine life. 
. They're either a lifesaver or a huge mistake, depending on who you ask. I mean, I'm all for reducing shark attacks, but at what cost to marine life? It's like we're just throwing our hands up in the air and saying "oh well, sharks are just gonna be around forever".
the bull sharks are definitely to blame, they're like the bad boys of the sea 
.
on a Reddit thread that showed how the sharks can accumulate in areas with poor visibility 
!
. I mean, on one hand, they can help keep people safe 
, but on the other hand, they might hurt marine life 
.
.
i feel bad 4 the surfer tho, hope he's okay! shark nets r a topic of debate 4 sure, some say they help while others say they harm the marine life. idk man, maybe we need 2 find a compromise? i mean, sharks are a part of the ecosystem n all that. 
but you know what's not cool is how they always clean up after those tourists who throw away their trash 
like where do they think all that plastic is gonna go? anyway, back to sharks... have you ever seen a bull shark in person? they're so gnarly 
i mean, i'm all for conservation and stuff but some of these shark nets are just, like, not working 
. and then you have people debating whether or not to use shark nets... idk, can't we just find a solution that works for everyone? 