A massive 3.4 meter great white shark was killed after being caught on a drum line just 300 meters off Greenmount Beach in Coolangatta, just out of the Roxy Pro contest site at Snapper Rocks.
According to the Courier Mail, the giant shark is the largest caught in over seven years on the Gold Coast.
Just hours before the shark was caught, the girls surfed at the Roxy Pro at Snapper Rocks. The shark was reported at around 2 pm, while the contest finished at 9:15 am.
While the hours between the contest’s end and the report of the shark seem sufficiently far apart, the Shark Control Program manager, Jeff Krause, said contestants were in a potentially dangerous situation.
“The successful removal of this dangerous shark from a popular swimming beach was particularly important,” he said. “The Quiksilver Pro surfing competition is currently underway at nearby Snapper Rocks.”
The great white was a particularly large one. According to the Courier Mail, it was the largest of its species to be caught off Queensland this year.“It was a pretty big shark,” Krause continued.
According to the controversial shark cull policy, animals caught on drum lines that are larger than three meters (around ten feet) are shot and disposed at sea. “I’m pretty sure it was brain spiked … which is the quickest and most humane way to kill a fish,” Krause told the Courier Mail.
The shark was initially spotted by a lifeguard on a jet ski. Another person reported it as well.
Dave Prodan, the ASP’s spokesman, told the Courier Mail that the safety and wellbeing of athletes was a top priority for the contest.
“Athletes understand that our sport takes place in the ocean and they are risks involved,” he said. “They’re aware of the risks and they’re so familiar with the area at Snapper Rocks so they’re not concerned.”
