Incident Report
Spearfisher Bitten by Grey Nurse Shark at Fish Rock, NSW
south west rocks, fish rock, New South Wales·Australia
A 31-year-old spearfisher sustained minor leg lacerations after encountering a grey nurse shark at Fish Rock near Southwest Rocks, New South Wales, on December 1, 2012. The incident was classified as provoked, and the victim did not require hospitalization.
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Incident Profile
Individual
Location
Description
On December 1, 2012, at approximately 4:30 p.m., a shark encounter occurred at Fish Rock near Southwest Rocks in New South Wales, Australia. The victim, a 31-year-old male, was engaged in spearfishing when he came into contact with a grey nurse shark. The incident resulted in minor lacerations to the victim's leg. Grey nurse sharks, also known as sand tigers, are generally not considered aggressive toward humans, though they are large predatory fish capable of inflicting injury. The classification of this incident as a provoked encounter suggests the circumstances involved the victim's fishing activity rather than an unprovoked shark approach. Fish Rock is a prominent diving and fishing location along the New South Wales coast, situated near Southwest Rocks. The area is known for its marine biodiversity and is frequented by both recreational and commercial fishers. The victim's injuries were determined to be minor in nature, and the incident did not result in fatality. The spearfisher received appropriate medical attention for the lacerations sustained during the encounter. This incident contributes to the documented record of human-shark interactions along the Australian coast, where thousands of people engage in water-based activities annually. While such encounters are notable, they remain relatively uncommon given the extensive use of Australian waters for fishing, diving, and recreation.