When 63‑year‑old Greg O'Neill was attacked by a great white shark at Sorrento Beach in Perth’s north on Friday, the incident quickly escalated beyond a tragic loss. Within days, Western Australian officials issued a rare catch‑and‑kill order – a step not taken in the state for a decade – in an effort to protect the public while the animal remains at large.
What happened
Witnesses reported seeing a 2.5‑metre (8‑ft‑2‑in) shark in the water at the time of the attack. One eyewitness told the ABC that two men were swimming, but only one returned to shore, and she saw "a pool of blood" in the water. Another witness described the victim being "mauled" as the shark "tossed him around like a fish". The victim’s body has not yet been recovered.
Authorities closed all beaches along Western Australia’s coast, including those in the capital, as a precautionary measure. The closures were set to remain in place until at least midday on Sunday, with police boats and a helicopter patrolling the shoreline.
The rare kill order
Western Australian Fisheries Minister Jackie Jarvis announced that she had taken the "extraordinary step" of issuing a catch‑and‑kill order after water police positively identified the shark involved in the incident. The order authorises fisheries officers to "destroy the shark" if it can be captured, citing the "exceptional circumstances" of the attack and the "hazard posed by the shark". Jarvis emphasised that this is not a broad cull; it is the first such order in ten years and is limited to the single identified animal.
In addition to the kill order, the minister said the state will increase the use of drones and tagging to monitor shark movements and improve beach safety.
Public safety versus conservation
Catch‑and‑kill orders are controversial because great white sharks are a protected species in Australia. The decision revives a debate that resurfaced after a 2014 cull in Western Australia, which sparked months of protests. Supporters argue that the order is a necessary response to a lethal attack that has already claimed three lives in the state this year. Critics warn that targeting individual sharks could set a precedent for broader culling, undermining long‑term conservation efforts.
- Safety measures: Beach closures, increased patrols, and the use of drones for real‑time monitoring.
- Conservation concerns: Great white sharks remain protected; the order is limited to a single, identified animal.
- Historical context: The last similar order was issued a decade ago; previous culls have faced public backlash.
Uncertainty and next steps
While the kill order provides a clear directive for authorities, several uncertainties remain. The shark has not yet been located, and the victim’s body is still missing, leaving families without closure. The effectiveness of drones and tagging in preventing future attacks is yet to be proven, and the balance between public safety and shark protection will continue to be scrutinised.
Officials have pledged to keep beaches closed until the shark is either captured or the threat is deemed mitigated. The broader community, still mourning the loss of Greg O'Neill, watches closely as the state navigates this delicate intersection of human safety and wildlife preservation.