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Locals feared attack

Sean Pollard was attacked by a shark at Wylie Bay, Esperance. Picture:Corrina Ridgway

Locals said it was only a matter of time before a shark attack rocked the picturesque town of Esperance.

Great white sharks up to 4m long were spotted off nearby beaches - including Kelpids beach where Sean Pollard was attacked - four times on one recent weekend, prompting questions as to whether yesterday's mauling could have been prevented.

_The West Australian _understands some Esperance locals voiced concerns to the shire council and local Fisheries officers and asked for preventive action before yesterday's attack.

Esperance surfer Shaun Pedersen said two great white sharks - 4m and 5m long - had been "hanging around" surfers at Kelpids beach up to a month ago.

"They were just underneath the surfers out there but they reckon they could have just reached down and touched them," he said.

"Obviously when they're getting that curious and hanging around surfers more than once and then having a go, something should have happened that day.

"It was only a matter of time."

Surfer Neville Manstead said he believed the numerous sightings could have been the same shark and action should have been taken.

"That (Wylie Bay) was one of my favourite spots," he said. "I was thinking of going out there this morning.

"It's very disconcerting. I just feel sorry for the person that's been attacked.

"They should have a plan where in all areas where a shark is spotted in close, somebody should able to go and make an effort to capture and get rid of it," he said.

Mr Manstead, a former shark fisherman, said great white sharks had no need to go close to shore.

"I know from people in the diving world and I used to be an abalone diver myself, you have 30 white pointers, 29 of them pay no attention to you but there's one that comes in close to check you out and bite you," he said.

Esperance Shire president Malcolm Heasman said the community was alerted after the sightings.

"We put a soft warning out on the radio, just asking people to be careful because there seems to be a few fish around," he said.

"There has been alarm in the community of late. There have been some sightings about and for a coastal community, that's not unusual."

Mr Heasman said theories for the increased shark activity included the presence of a whale carcass or a pregnant whale about to give birth near Esperance.

Albany Boardriders president Adrian Shepherd said there had been a gradual shift in the mood of south coast surfers with news of each attack from pro-shark protection to support for culling.

He said increasing numbers of whales and seals in local waters had produced an "abundant" feeding ground for big sharks.

"My stance is starting to change because it's becoming a little bit too common," Mr Shepherd said.

"Every now and then you might find one that is a little sick and can't get its prey and it will mistake us for its prey.

"I think we need to re-look at it and we most probably need to do a cull.

"If another surfer gets taken, I think there's going to be a huge revolt, with people demanding action."

Mr Heasman said Wylie Bay was a popular beach with locals and visitors.

"It's a very wide sweeping beach," he said. "Generally the waves are very good in the sense that you can swim there but also the important attraction is you can get down to the beach in your four-wheel-drive and go right along to the national park."

Mr Heasman said it would take the community a few days to digest what happened.

"Obviously it's going to have an effect," he said. "We will be examining how we can best prevent something like this happening again but we don't believe the extreme measure of putting out drum lines is the solution."

Though Wylie Bay's beaches will be closed for the next few days, Mr Heasman said the attack did not mean people should avoid using the ocean around Esperance.

"It does warrant extra caution," he said. "Try and be in a group, not alone.

"I'm not saying we should go as far as not going in the water. That would be like saying don't cross the road so you don't get hit by a car."

They were just underneath the surfers out there."