Due to increased shark activity and sightings around the Swansea Channel, the Lake Macquarie Nine Mile Ocean Classic has been postponed until later this year.
A 314kg bull shark was caught near fishing cleaning tables at Blacksmiths earlier in the week, as well as an impending mullet, run as cause a halt to the event.
The annual swimming event was meant to be held at Blacksmiths Beach tomorrow, but organisers felt compelled to postpone it for the safety of everyone involved.
"We've postponed it due to the recent bull shark catching in the Swansea Channel and the fact there is other large sharks down there at the moment.
"We're volunteer surf life savers and we've got to put the publics safety first. We dont want to put them in danger, we respect that and we hope everyone else respects our decision as well and we have to think of our volunteers and our sponsers at the club".
Mr Burge also says the event will hopefully run in late 2017.
"Our major concern is with the mullet run season, it'll bring a lot of large sharks through the area.
"Our organising committee is going to sit down next Wednesday night and hopefully working with the Ocean Swims of NSW, and hopefully, have something in late October or early November".
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| Image- 314kg Bull Shark caught at Blacksmiths Credit- TenPlay |
