The family of an American killed by a shark while diving at Rottnest Island, 12km off the coast of Perth, say they are disappointed the state government in Western Australia gave an order to kill the rogue shark.
Family members said they felt Thomas Wainwright, 32, would have hated for it to be hunted.
The state has suffered three shark fatalities in two months, prompting fears among tourism operators that visitors will steer clear of Perth and Western Australia.
Before last weekend’s Rottnest tragedy, a surfer was taken by a shark in the state’s southwest and a swimmer disappeared – believed to have been killed by a shark – from one of Perth’s most popular beaches.
Tourism Council of WA board member Manny Papadoulis said he feared the tourism industry would take a hit in the next six months because of recent shark attacks and sightings.
Terry Howson, who operates dolphin tours south of Perth, wants cage diving with great white sharks off South Australia and South Africa to be stopped.
“Common sense suggests that these cage diving operations are unwittingly conditioning great white sharks to associate boats and people with food,” he said.
