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“Needle in Haystack”: Rare Catch-and-Kill Order for Shark That Killed Swimmer in Perth Is Abandoned

Published 22 Sep 2026 at 5:44 PM

by Tendani Mungoni

3 min read

Greg O'Neill, 63, was killed by a suspected three-metre great white shark while swimming at Sorrento Beach in Perth
Western Australian authorities issued a rare catch-and-kill order for the shark, believed to be the first in the state in 10 years
Shark capture gear was removed after experts warned the chances of finding the shark were slim to none

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Killer shark leaves authorities stumped after rare hunt fails — Authorities issue rare catch-and-kill order for shark. Image: yoh4nn
Source: Getty Images

A 63-year-old swimmer lost his life to a great white shark at Sorrento Beach in Perth, Western Australia, on Friday, 19 September 2026. Greg James O'Neill was swimming close to shore when the shark struck. His body has not been recovered.

Witnesses described a horrifying scene. One told local media she watched the shark toss O'Neill "like a fish," while another said only one of two men in the water made it back to shore, leaving a visible pool of blood behind. Members of the public reported seeing a shark measuring roughly 2.5 metres at the time.

Rare kill order issued and then abandoned

In response, WA Fisheries Minister Jackie Jarvis took what she described as an "extraordinary step," issuing a catch-and-kill order after water police spotted and positively identified the shark the following morning. It is believed to be the first such order in Western Australia in a decade. Great white sharks are a protected species in Australia, making the order both rare and deeply controversial.

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Shark capture gear, a type of drum line normally used for tagging, was deployed about 1.5 kilometres off Sorrento Beach by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development. It was removed the same afternoon after authorities found no evidence of shark activity and determined the chances of a capture had become too slim to justify continuing.

Behavioural biologist Culum Brown from Macquarie University was blunt in his assessment. He said finding the specific shark responsible was like searching for "a needle in a haystack," noting that great whites travel vast distances and could be hundreds of kilometres away within hours. He also questioned the logic of the operation, pointing out that the only way to confirm a shark's guilt would be to kill and gut it, raising the question of how many sharks authorities planned to catch before finding the right one.

Calls for more drone investment grow louder

Brown argued that the money would be better spent on shark-spotting drone technology, calling it "highly effective," cheaper than helicopters, and capable of intervening before an attack occurs without the bycatch risks associated with shark nets. The New South Wales government invested a further R34 million in drone technology in June following a shark attack at Coogee Beach in Sydney.

Minister Jarvis acknowledged that expanding drone coverage across WA's coastline was "absolutely under consideration" and said the government would review its existing mitigation strategies before deciding on next steps.

O'Neill's family visited Sorrento Beach on Saturday, where locals had gathered to lay flowers in his memory. In a statement, his family described him as:

"A passionate swimmer, sports lover, dedicated worker and an all-round generous, witty guy,"

They also said they were

"Deeply shocked and devastated."

Rare kill order issued and then abandoned

Calls for more drone investment grow louder

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