Shark sighting closes Lamma beaches for 24 hours
Spadenose shark found by swimmer at Hung Shing Yeh beach, prompting warnings for swimmers to stay out of the water
Two Lamma Island beaches reopened yesterday at the end of a 24-hour closure triggered by the discovery of a baby shark close to shore.
The spadenose shark, about 50 centimetres long, had died before government officials could reach it, but the sighting raised hopes that more sharks would return as the marine ecosystem recovered.
Spadenose sharks grow no longer than a metre and are not a threat to humans. A member of the species was spotted by a swimmer at Hung Shing Yeh Beach at about noon on Friday.
Marine police and the Government Flying Service checked for other sharks and big fish nearby, and examined shark nets.
Looped tannoy announcements told visitors to the beaches: "May I have your attention please. Suspected shark sightings are reported. Please do not go into the water," while signs warned that people disobeying the orders could face prosecution.
Despite the warning several families at Hung Shing Yeh were splashing in water near the shore and a few ignored the announcements and were swimming lengths of the roped off area within the shark net.