A spate of shark sightings and an attack on a kayaker have got Sydney residents nervously eyeing the city's harbour.
The last fatal shark attack in Sydney Harbour was in 1963, but experts are warning that the water is now cleaner than it has been for decades, attracting shoals of fish which in turn bring in big sharks from the ocean.
Last week, a three-metre-long bull shark was caught by commercial fishermen off Rushcutters Bay, a popular marina in the heart of the city which hosted yachting events during the 2000 summer Olympics.
Bull sharks are considered one of the most dangerous species in the world. 'They grow to be pretty large, they have an impressive set of teeth and they eat almost anything,' said Mark McGrouther, a shark expert with the Australian Museum in Sydney.
The shark was caught by fisherman Tony De Pasquale.
'I've been fishing for 20 years and up until recently I'd only ever caught one shark,' Mr De Pasquale said. 'But in the last five months we have caught six or seven. The only thing I can put it down to is cleaner waters.'
