A shark cull supported by the New South Wales government is under consideration following a serious shark attack at Coogee Beach, one of Sydney’s busiest coastal areas. The incident, which took place on Saturday, involved a 3.5-meter great white shark and left a 35-year-old woman with critical injuries.

NSW Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty confirmed on Sunday that her department is currently assessing the possibility of implementing a cull in response to the attack. While Moriarty emphasized that technological solutions—such as increased use of drones for shark tracking and tagging—remain the preferred strategy, she acknowledged that no options have been ruled out. “The priority is technology,” she said, highlighting efforts to expand drone surveillance to help beachgoers make informed decisions. She added that officials are consulting on what a targeted cull might entail.

The attack, which is the latest in a series of incidents around Sydney in recent months, saw eyewitnesses describe how the woman was pulled from the water by nearby swimmers after suffering deep lacerations to her arm and leg. NSW Health Minister Ryan Park reported that the woman was stable but remained in critical condition with serious injuries. The attack reportedly occurred between the flagged swimming areas, in clear water approximately 20 to 30 meters from shore.

Following the event, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority lifted a ban on flying shark-spotting drones over Coogee Beach—previously restricted due to the beach’s proximity to Sydney Airport flight paths—to facilitate enhanced surveillance. The state government is also deploying additional drumlines in the area, adding to the 60 great white sharks already tagged and released under the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) program this year. The shark involved in the attack had not been tagged.

NSW Agriculture Minister Moriarty downplayed calls for immediate culling based on recent shark movements, stating that such actions are unlikely to be effective. “That’s not how shark activity works. That’s not how sharks move around our oceans,” she said. Marcel Green, the lead of the DPI’s shark program, described the attack as unusual given the clear water conditions and the victim’s adherence to safety protocols.

This incident follows a string of shark encounters in the region, including four attacks in two days in January that resulted in the death of a 12-year-old boy and a man losing a leg, as well as a fatal attack on Sydney’s northern beaches in September. Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott joined voices calling for a shark cull after Saturday’s attack, but authorities remain cautious about the approach.

Coogee Beach remained closed on Sunday as authorities continued their response efforts.