Shark scare

POTENTIAL tragedy was averted last Saturday when lifeguards closed Port Kembla beach following the sighting of 16 Hammerhead during regular patrols by the Bendigo Bank Aerial Patrol.

According to Harry Mitchell of the Bendigo Bank Aerial Patrol the sharks were as close as 50 metres from shore and swimming close to the patrolled surf zone.

"Aerial Patrol crew radioed lifeguards of the potential threat which resulted in the closure of the beach for up to an hour," he said.

Aerial Patrol forced a second closure of the beach at 4 pm the same afternoon with sharks still in the area.

Also on Saturday the Aerial Patrol spotted a three metre shark about 70 metres off the shore at South Narrabeen beach in Sydney.

More sharks were spotted last Sunday at Windang, Port Kembla and down the coast at Sussex Inlet.

Mr Mitchell said a number of sharks had been spotted in Sydney and Illawarra waters this season with the trend expected to continue until at least the end of March.

"The warmer in shore ocean temperatures, together with food provided by coastal estuaries, particularly after the recent rains, attract sharks closer to shore," he said.

In light of the recent attacks of a surfer near Ballina and a diver at Eden Aerial Patrol urges all swimmers, surfers and divers to be vigilant when enjoying the region's waters.

The Aerial Patrol's red and yellow aeroplanes have been providing surveillance over Sydney, the Illawarra and South Coast beaches since the beginning of summer and will continue until the end of the summer season in April.