Incident Report
Spearfisher Injured by Bronze Whaler Shark in Western Australia
jurien bay, cervantes, nr, Western Australia·Australia
A 47-year-old male spearfisher sustained leg injuries from teeth marks during an encounter with a 1.5-meter bronze whaler shark near Jurien Bay in March 2004.
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Incident Profile
Individual
Location
Description
In March 2004, a spearfishing incident occurred in coastal waters near Jurien Bay in the Cervantes region of Western Australia. A 47-year-old male spearfisher was bitten by a bronze whaler shark (Carcharhinus brachyurus) estimated at 1.5 meters in length. The shark inflicted teeth marks on the victim's leg during the encounter. The incident resulted in non-fatal injuries, and the spearfisher survived the encounter. Bronze whaler sharks are known to inhabit Australian coastal waters and are opportunistic predators that may investigate or interact with humans in the water. This incident highlights the inherent risks associated with spearfishing activities in shark-inhabited environments.