Wellington beach on Shark warning
As hordes of holidaymakers headed to Wellington's beaches, police were clearing the water of swimmers after a 2 ½-metre hammerhead shark was sighted off a popular bathing spot.
The deadly shark was seen by fishermen cruising a kilometre off Worser Bay at noon yesterday as south coast beaches began to fill up with families keen to cool off.
Maritime Police scoured the harbour on the launch Lady Elizabeth IV after the sighting and a police patrol car was sent to warn bathers out of the water.
The hammerhead – the eighth most dangerous shark to humans – arrived in Wellington Harbour just days after scientists warned that unusually warm waters could attract sharks.
Cameron Anstiss, 17, saw the fin as it came straight for his boat, and exclaimed: "Shit, what's that?"
The shark circled the boat, swam under it, then lazily headed towards the harbour. "It was pretty scary."
Mr Anstiss said it was unlikely he would go swimming this summer.
His father, Mike, brother Hayden, 14, and Mr Anstiss's brother-in-law Mark Hardy were also on the 5.5m fibreglass runabout.
Mike Anstiss said they were catching gurnard in 13-metre-deep water about 1km off Worser Bay. The water temperature was about 18 degrees, three degrees warmer than the average in summer.
The berley they were using probably attracted the shark, which was "at least" 2.5m long.
A Worser Bay surf lifesaving volunteer said police had phoned to ask that beachgoers be warned. A patrol car was also sent.
Elliot Taylor, from Scorching Bay cafe Scorch-a-rama, said a customer had told him that police instructed swimmers to get out of the water – but few were deterred.
"About 15 minutes afterwards, people were starting to swim in the water again."
Strathmore resident Mark Coronno and his children Grace, 9, Poppy, 6, and Louis, 3, were enjoying the waves yesterday when The Dominion Post told them of the sighting. "There absolutely should have been a warning ... it's a bit late after the event. Even if the likelihood [of getting attacked] is very slim ... that's not the point," Mr Coronno said. "It's definitely not impossible you could be bitten by a hammerhead."
He had previously reassured his children there were no sharks at Scorching Bay.
City councillor Andy Foster, at the beach with his son, 8, and daughter, 5, had just emerged from a swim. "If there was a shark somewhere, I'd be staying out [of the water]. It's not worth getting yourself gnawed."
He was surprised no one was monitoring the beach. "I would have expected someone to at least be keeping an eye on things – unless they're not worried about it."
Conservation Department marine scientist Clinton Duffy said it was unusual to see hammerhead sharks in Wellington Harbour, but not unheard of.
"I have never heard of them giving anyone grief," he said.
Despite the sighting, the city council is not considering shark nets to protect swimmers.
Spokesman Richard MacLean said sharks were common in Cook Strait and the harbour, and the sighting was a long way from beaches. "They don't appear to be that interested in coming in to shore to eat people." Read More ...
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