Historical Retrospective | Fear Spreads Due to Shark Incident

An 18 foot (5.4 metre) shark has been sighted just 400 meters from the shoreline in the Kalokolevu area near Naboro, according to a report by The Fiji Times on August 16, 1984. This rare sighting has sparked fear among local divers and fishermen. Isoa Wong, a government employee, disclosed that he saw the shark while fishing in the Namuka passage with David Foster.

Wong said he has never witnessed such a large shark in these waters throughout his decade of living there. He also revealed that the spot where they saw the shark was the same place where his cousin, Steven Fong’s clothing was discovered after he went missing while spear-fishing on October 5, 1983, an incident believed to be a shark attack. Fong’s body was never found.

In light of the shark sighting, Wong has urged divers to exercise extreme caution, especially those from Suva who are attracted to the area due to its abundant marine life. Ever since the sighting, Wong and others have stopped diving both during the day and at night.

Ben Suka, a local resident, also reported seeing the shark while fishing at Joske Reef. He recounted a scene where the shark chased and played with a large turtle, striking fear into women collecting seafood nearby, prompting them to abandon their gear and flee to shore. The shark even surfaced to feed, suggesting it may be quite audacious.

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