The Department of Conservation (DOC) is warning the public to be careful in the water after a large great white shark was spotted in a west Auckland harbour.
The great white was seen by a family fishing from a 6m-long boat in the Waitemata Harbour near Te Atatu on Monday.
The family saw the shark after hooking it on a fishing line. They say it broke free after leaping out of the water a couple of times.
DOC says there have been no more sighting of the shark, estimated to be around 4.5m long.
"This is a large great white and most likely came into this area of the Waitemata to feed," says DOC marine scientist Clinton Duffy. "This is an infrequent, but not unusual occurrence, especially at this time of year."
Those fishing, kayaking, or kite surfing in this area have been advised to keep an eye out for the shark and to take special care and keep themselves safe.
"The shark will be swimming on the edges of deep channels in the harbour but will come into shallow water near the shore if it thinks there's something to eat," says Mr Duffy. "It's not an area where people usually swim and we advise people that they should not swim there."
DOC also says people should avoid attracting the shark by dumping dead fish, old bait or attaching a burley bag to their anchor chain.
If anyone sees the shark they should call the DOC hotline on 0800 362 468.
Great white sharks are considered a threatened species worldwide. They are fully protected in New Zealand waters under the Fisheries Act 1996 and the Wildlife Act 1953.
It is illegal to deliberately catch, or harm a great white shark in anyway, in New Zealand waters and is punishable by a fine of up to $250,000 or up to six months in prison.
3 News
source: newshub archive
