Incident Report
Spearfisher Injured by Bronze Whaler Shark in Western Port Bay
westernport bay, shoreham beach, Victoria·Australia
A 42-year-old male spearfisher sustained minor lacerations to his arm and hand during an encounter with a 3-meter bronze whaler shark at Shoreham Beach, Western Port Bay, Victoria in March 1980.
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Incident Profile
Individual
Location
Description
In March 1980, a spearfishing incident occurred at Shoreham Beach in Western Port Bay, Victoria, Australia. A 42-year-old male spearfisher encountered a bronze whaler shark measuring approximately 3 meters in length. The shark inflicted minor lacerations to the victim's arm and hand during the interaction. The spearfisher survived the encounter with non-fatal injuries. This incident represents a relatively uncommon interaction between humans and bronze whaler sharks (Carcharhinus brachyurus), a species found in coastal waters around southern Australia. Bronze whalers are generally considered potentially dangerous, though serious incidents remain rare.