Tweed coast shark hotspots identified
TWEED surfer and journalist Andrew McKinnon said there were a number of locations on the Tweed where sharks were known to habituate.
"Kingscliff to Cudgen, Pottsville to Hastings Point and Fingal, with Cook Island out the back," he said.
At the weekend 19-year-old Zach Young died after a shark attack near Coffs Harbour. This tragic event has again raised issues surrounding how to make our beaches safer.
Andrew said while the incident was unsettling and tragic, the risk of a shark attack was well known to surfers.
And while he agreed shark nets used on the Gold Coast were effective, he did not hold the view they were required on the Tweed.
"I don't know if it's warranted. There are not enough attacks," he said. "On the Gold Coast in the 60's and 70's there were some pretty savage attacks, but nets are highly contentious and I have seen the environmental damage."
Instead surfers should remain vigilant and be aware of the risks.
"You just have to be careful," he said.
"Early (in the day) or later, especially later, is the worst. It's a dangerous time to surf."
Andrew said the safest beaches on the Tweed were Kingscliff beach break and Cabarita.
