Australian fishermen fight off great white shark
PA
Two Australian fishermen managed to fight off a great white shark when it approached them off the coast of Geraldton, north of Perth.
Sky News reports that Nathan Podmore and Dave Richards were 50 metres from their boat when the shark started circling them.
In video footage of the incident, which has been posted on YouTube, you can clearly see both men poking the shark with their spears.
Sky News reports that Mr Podmore said: "It came straight at us, it looked like a torpedo, it was massive."
He explained that he gave the shark a "good whack" to see it off.
Last week Benjamin Linden, a surfer, was killed by a great white near Wedge Island, just south of where this incident happened.
His death was the fifth fatality resulting from shark attack in less than a year.
The attacks have reignited the debate over whether great whites should retain their status as a protected species, allowing either fishing or a cull.
The BBC reports that state premier Colin Barnett ruled out a culling programme after a fatal attack in March.
But talking to Australia's ABC television, fisheries minister Norman Moore said: "I think we need to have another look now to see whether or not there's been a significant increase in great white numbers since they became protected. And if that's the case, should they still be on a protected list?"
Although sharks are common in Australian waters, fatal attacks are rare, usually averaging about one year.
John G West, curator of the Australian Shark Attack File, told BBC News: "For the last 100 years there have been as many as five occasions where there have been over 10 shark fatalities and eight occasions where five fatalities have occurred over a two year period. The events in Western Australia over the last two years are unusual in that they occurred in the one State."
He added: "What is known is that white sharks in particular do swim along the Western Australia coast at various times of the year on their way between feeding and possibly mating grounds.
"They have been doing this for millions of years. The 'path' they travel brings them in close contact with the shoreline and in some cases with people in the water."
He believes that there's no evidence that a rise in shark numbers is leading to the increase in attacks and believes that it has more to do with an increased human population, more people visiting the beaches, a rise in the popularity of water sports and the trend for people to visit previously isolated parts of the coast.
Click on the image below to see how the fisherman fought off the shark...
Click on the image below to see some of the world's most remote islands...
%VIRTUAL-Gallery-159738%
