Surfer bitten by shark near Byron Bay

The bite, the seventh in the Byron-Ballina region since the start of last year and the third in a month, comes as the Baird government announced a timeframe for a move toward installing shark nets in the region.

Police say they received a call at 7.30am on Monday that a man had checked himself in to Byron Bay Hospital after being bitten by a shark.

The encounter was at Broken Head, south of Byron, police said.

The 36 year-old surfer was described as "conscious and breathing" with injuries that were not life-threatening.

"He was pretty calm and probably in shock," Aaron Hoffman, a surfer who was with the victim before the man was taken to hospital, told Fairfax Media. "He wasn't expressing much pain."

"There was a little bit of blood on his [surf] board," Mr Hoffman said, adding the diameter of the shark bite on the board was about 300 millimetres.

On Monday afternoon Primary Industries Minister Niall Blair said the man was recovering well.

Mr Blair promised to introduce legislation to have the nets installed by the summer holidays for a six-month trial of shark nets on the north coast. The government announced earlier this month it would try the nets in favour of its previously favoured option, drum lines.

"The time has come," he said. "[But] we can never make our beaches 100 per cent safe".

Mr Blair, who has been subject to criticism from animal welfare groups for the government's about-face on the shark-net issue, said the government would consult on options to minimise harm to sharks such as removing the nets at night.

All beaches across Byron Bay have been closed until Tuesday morning, Surf Life Saving NSW said in a statement.

An image posted to social media on Monday morning by Geoffrey Knapp showed several deep wounds to the surfer's thigh and bite marks on his surfboard.

Mr Knapp, who offered first aid at the scene, told ABC he and a friend had been surfing near a group of dolphins when he saw the surfer leaving the water in a hurry.

"He got the impression the shark was trying to knock him off his surfboard and try and roll him over," he said, adding the man had seen the shark's tail as it bit him.

Mr Hoffman, an engineer, posted images of the bite victim to Facebook, saying:

"Another dude just got attacked by a shark at Broken, 100m from me luckily he is fine apart from a few teeth holes in his thigh."

Mr Hoffman said about 40 surfers were out in the water, with the victim about 100-150 metres offshore when he was bitten.

The incident occurred between Suffolk Park Beach and Broken Head at an unpatrolled beach.

"It is believed that the shark emerged from under the man while he was waiting for a wave," Surf Life Saving, said. "The man's surfboard took the brunt of the impact."

The man was driven to hospital by a friend, SLS said.

Channel Nine interviewed a woman at the scene who said the beach was evacuated quickly.

"We were pretty freaked out," she said. "There was a lot of blood. It was pretty freaky."

A spokeswoman for the regional hospital said the man had checked himself into Byron Central Hospital "with minor lacerations".

The NSW Department of Primary Industries will investigate the incident, including to identify the species of shark involved.

"A decision on when to reopen the beaches will be made on Tuesday morning after consultation with all stakeholders," SLS said.

The beach closure, though, has not been fully observed, according to this posting on Twitter: 

Net protests

It is just weeks after teenager Cooper Allen was bitten by a shark at Lighthouse Beach at Ballina. He was helped from the water by fellow surfers, and was left with severe lacerations to his legs.

Two weeks ago, another surfer sustained minor injuries after he was bitten by a shark at Sharpes Beach, north of Ballina. The man drove himself to hospital.

The latest incident comes after weekend protests at Ballina against the nets, which are described by opponents as ineffective and a threat to the region's rich marine life, including turtles, dolphins and threatened sharks.

Supporters of nets say the same protection that is afforded to swimmers and surfers in beaches from Wollongong to Newcastle, including Sydney, should be extended to the Far North NSW after the spate of shark attacks.

Only one death from a shark bite has occurred at a netted beach since they were introduced in 1937.

But Greens MLC Justin Field accused the state government of moving too hastily with its plans to introduce legislation by year's end.

"The government is moving away from a science based approach and is not being honest with the community about the limitations of this outdated technology," he said. 

Cull call

Mr Hoffman, the surfer from Lennox Head, said support for nets or other action to curb the spate of bites was strongest among those who regularly used the water, such as surfers or fishing crews.

"I would probably prefer a targeted cull [of sharks]," he said. "It's been pretty ridiculous."

He said the increase in bites may be an indication of a recovery in numbers of great whites at least in that region of the coast, and authorities should take that into account when considering a reduction of numbers of the nationally endangered species.

A targeted cull would help reduce the risk of bycatch from the nets, he said.

A regular surfer in the area, Mr Hoffman said he would be back in the water again soon despite the latest incident "if my girlfriend lets me".

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With AAP

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