Drone captures moment Cottesloe bronze whaler shark was allegedly speared, dragged through water by diver

January 10

A local surf lifesaver filmed the moment a shark stuck in Cottesloe beach’s barrier became agitated after being shot with a speargun on Wednesday morning.

The 1.5m bronze whaler was eventually freed from Cottesloe’s shark barrier on Thursday after more than 24 hours stuck inside the enclosure.

It was first spotted about 7.30am Wednesday by North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club member Clifford Ford, who had captured footage of the shark swimming inside the barrier with a drone.

Camera IconDrone footage of the bronze whaler shark inside the enclosure. Credit: Cliff Ford

Moments later, Cottesloe Surf Life Saving crew sounded the warning siren and ordered swimmers from the water.

However, one diver remained in the water and was captured by Mr Ford’s drone about 20 minutes later swimming next to the shark he had allegedly speared.

“After I changed my drone’s camera batteries, I suddenly saw this shark trying to get away from something. It started thrashing around frantically,” Mr Ford said.

“I then noticed that it was a diver, who had a speargun and was trying to reel the shark in.

“It was quite shocking, I felt sorry for the shark.

“He shouldn’t have been in the water because the shark alarm had been raised. Spear guns are banned in the Cottesloe Fish Protection Zone.“

data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==Camera IconDrone footage of the bronze whaler shark appears to be agitated after it was allegedly speared and dragged by a diver on Wednesday morning. Credit: Cliff Ford

Mr Ford said the diver left the beach without being questioned.

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development on Friday was continuing to investigate whether the fisherman’s alleged actions were legal.

“DPIRD is continuing to make enquiries in regards to a person who allegedly fired a speargun at a shark within the Cottesloe Beach Enclosure on Wednesday 8 January to determine if any breach of fisheries legislation had occurred,” the department said in a statement.

“DPIRD is not aware if any injuries were sustained.”

According to Mr Ford, the shark was injured by the attack and began to swim in the middle of the enclosure, instead of circling the extremities looking for a way out.

“The shark was obviously injured and started swimming. It was feeling sorry for itself,” he said.

“From then on, it just swam around in the middle. But before he shot it, it was trying to get out. It was frantically trying to find a hole.”

Contractors on Wednesday afternoon removed a five-metre section of the barrier in hopes the shark would swim free.

data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==Camera IconDrone footage of the bronze whaler shark inside the enclosure. Credit: Cliff Ford

However, it remained inside until the following day.

“We got a real shock when we saw it still in there on Thursday,” he said.

“It was just going around and around in circles for about three or four hours.”

Authorities created a bigger opening, about 30m wide, on the western side of the net. The whaler shark was later filmed exiting the enclosure and swimming away in a south-west direction.

The beach has since reopened for the public following a final sweep of the shark barrier enclosure on Thursday.

“The Town would like to thank the staff from the Department of Fisheries, representatives from Surf Lifesaving WA, our wonderful local Surf Lifesaving Clubs and Eco Shark barriers, and the contractors who supplied and installed the barrier, for their responsiveness and cooperation in resolving this unusual situation,” The Town of Cottesloe said in a statement.

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