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Dead shark picture: Questions remain over Facebook images of enormous shark caught off Australian coast | Dead shark picture: Questions remain over Facebook images of enormous shark caught off Australian coast |
(1 day later) | |
Photographs of an enormous Tiger shark fished off the eastern Australian coast have emerged on social media. | |
There are few details about the shark, reportedly caught three weeks ago off the New South Wales coastline, but photographs depicting the mammoth beast have been widely shared online. | There are few details about the shark, reportedly caught three weeks ago off the New South Wales coastline, but photographs depicting the mammoth beast have been widely shared online. |
NSW newspaper The Northern Star claims the four metre catch was made by a local fisherman known only as “Matthew”. | NSW newspaper The Northern Star claims the four metre catch was made by a local fisherman known only as “Matthew”. |
"I was the one that took that photo and I was the one that caught that fish," he claimed. | "I was the one that took that photo and I was the one that caught that fish," he claimed. |
Matthew added that he caught the creature around 14 miles off Tweed Heads, NSW, and that he was initially unsure of the species. | Matthew added that he caught the creature around 14 miles off Tweed Heads, NSW, and that he was initially unsure of the species. |
"I just had to confirm with a bloke that it was a Tiger and not a Great White and I used those photos to show him," he told the newspaper. | "I just had to confirm with a bloke that it was a Tiger and not a Great White and I used those photos to show him," he told the newspaper. |
The images first emerged after Byron Bay resident Geoff Brooks posted them to his Facebook timeline. | The images first emerged after Byron Bay resident Geoff Brooks posted them to his Facebook timeline. |
However, Mr Brooks has subsequently admitted he did not take the images – but continued to claim that the photographs are “real”. Social media users have criticised the images, with some claiming they are fake. | However, Mr Brooks has subsequently admitted he did not take the images – but continued to claim that the photographs are “real”. Social media users have criticised the images, with some claiming they are fake. |
The picture of that massive shark looks soooooo fake!! | The picture of that massive shark looks soooooo fake!! |
Yea dude totally but the shark still looks fake | Yea dude totally but the shark still looks fake |
Tiger sharks, which commonly grow up to around five metres long, can be legally commercially fished in large part of the seas off the NSW coast. | Tiger sharks, which commonly grow up to around five metres long, can be legally commercially fished in large part of the seas off the NSW coast. |
A spokesperson for the Department of Primary Industries told the Brisbane Times that the department was not investigating the incident. "This size is not unusual for a tiger shark," he added. | A spokesperson for the Department of Primary Industries told the Brisbane Times that the department was not investigating the incident. "This size is not unusual for a tiger shark," he added. |