SHARK encounters must be reported directly to Water Police if authorities are to have any chance of dealing with an emergency, a Department of Fisheries official has warned.
The warning comes after a diver used a spear gun to fight off a large great white shark in waters 20 kilometres off Garden Island earlier this week.
Fisheries Metro Region manager Tony Cappelluti said it was vital that anyone who encountered a shark in a threatening situation report it to the Water Police.
“If they have the information then they can deal with the situation by sending out an emergency SMS to the relevant authorities,” he said.
“In the case of the men who encountered the great white off Garden Island this week, that information was reported to the water police second-hand.
“We haven’t had a chance to talk to the men.”
According to a media report, three men – Darren and Bill Morris and Paul White – ventured out from Rockingham on Monday morning for a diving expedition.
Darren Morris (39) and Mr White entered the water, leaving Bill Morris (63) on the boat.
Mr White came face to face with the shark, which followed him and pushed him into the side of the boat.
“My worst nightmare was looking me in the eye so I quickly turned to survival,” Mr White told a Perth radio station.
“I managed to fend him off with my spear gun, that’s the only way to describe it.
“I managed to push him away and every time he came back, I gave him a nudge and away he went.”
Mr White said he poked the shark in the eye, in the gills and in the mouth with his spear gun to ward it off.
“He started pushing me around like that and that’s when I thought, ‘My god, come on boys, come and get me’.”
Mr Cappelluti said authorities were ultimately happy that the three men escaped unharmed.
“From all reports, they were a long way out and large bronze whalers are quite common out there,” he said.
“But great white encounters are not so common.
“It was a case of wrong place at the wrong time for these guys.”
To contact the Water Police, call 9442 8600.