Arabic version: أستراليا الغربية تصدر أمراً بصيد وقتل قرش بعد هجوم قاتل في سورينتو

According to ABC News, Western Australia Fisheries Minister Jackie Jarvis has authorised the capture and killing of the great white shark that fatally attacked a swimmer at Perth’s Sorrento Beach on Friday morning. Authorities are searching for the untagged shark, while emergency services also continue searching for the body of the 63-year-old man.

Jarvis described the decision as a “very unusual” and “extraordinary” step, saying witnesses had positively identified the shark before it swam away. She said she considered the exceptional circumstances of the attack, the hazard posed by the shark and the potential recovery of coronial evidence. Capture gear, normally used to tag sharks, was deployed on Friday but could not be set up on Saturday because of choppy waters and unfavourable weather.

Beaches across the City of Joondalup, from Marmion to Iluka, remain closed while authorities assess the situation. The victim’s family visited Sorrento Beach on Saturday, where locals left floral tributes. The death was Western Australia’s third fatal shark attack this year and has renewed debate over beach safety.

Jarvis said a widespread cull of white sharks would not be appropriate, noting the species is protected internationally. The state will review its shark-mitigation strategy, which includes tagging and tracking, notifications, warning sirens, enclosures and personal deterrents. More drones to spot sharks and an expanded tagging program are under consideration; more than 300 sharks, including 227 white sharks, have been tagged in Western Australia.