DPIRD yet to determine species of shark that bit off-duty officer snorkelling at the Abrolhos Islands

Authorities have still not identified the type of shark species that seriously wounded a woman who was snorkelling at the Abrolhos Islands last week. The officer from the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, aged in her 30s, was snorkelling off duty after her shift on Rat Island about 5pm on Tuesday when she was bitten by a shark. Colleagues in a nearby vessel treated her injuries, believed to be to her leg, and rushed her to shore, where she was flown to Geraldton. The woman was discharged from Geraldton Health Campus the next day. A DPIRD spokesperson said the team was working in the area prior to the incident and the department was providing full support to the injured officer and hoped for a speedy recovery. They said the snorkelling officer’s wetsuit had been “retained for analysis to try to determine the species of the shark involved”. On Monday, the DPIRD spokesperson said the department had not yet confirmed the shark species. The nursing post on Rat Island was not staffed at the time of the incident. It’s understood it is only staffed during the peak crayfish season, which runs from March to June. This incident has further strengthened calls for an emergency rescue helicopter to be based in the Mid West. A strongly supported community-driven campaign has so far failed to sway the State Government to invest in a locally based rescue chopper. People can check for shark activity on the SharkSmart website or app, and report a shark sighting on that platform and report it to Water Police on 9442 8600.