Hopes Byrons sharks will soon move on

28.11.2007
By RACHEL AFFLICK
NORTHERN NSW lifeguard co-ordinator Stephen Leahy has good news for everyone staying out of the water.
The sharks which have been menacing swimmers at Byron Bay should begin to disappear within two weeks.
Mr Leahy told The Northern Star cold water attracting bait fish to the area is expected to warm up. This means the fish will leave and the sharks will follow.

The news comes after another shark was sighted at Byron Bays Main Beach yesterday.
Mr Leahy said police received a Triple-0 call about midday warning a shark had been spotted and Byron Bay surf lifesavers attended the beach within two minutes.

A Channel Ten news chopper circling the area indicated to us they had also seen the shark, Mr Leahy said.
Mr Leahy said after this latest sighting he approached the Marine Parks Authority to raise his concerns about the shark problem.
I was advised while the water remains cold it is highly likely we will continue to see bait fish and sharks, Mr Leahy said. The sharks are feeding on bait fish and seem to have little interest in humans. They will start to disappear as the water starts warming up in the next couple of weeks.

In the meantime, he said, the usual precautions were advised.
People shouldn t swim or surf large distances offshore, and should stay in a group.