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Kelly Slater issues WA shark warning as Margaret River Pro row deepens

Champion US surfer Kelly Slater has warned about increased shark activity off WA's South West coast as the state's Tourism Minister took a swipe at the decision to abandon the rest of the Margaret River Pro.

The World Surf League yesterday decided to cancel the competition with five days remaining over fears about aggressive sharks in the area, after two recreational surfers were attacked near Gracetown on Monday.

The move has split the surfing community and prompted concerns about whether shark attacks are damaging WA's international reputation.

Speaking before the event was cancelled, Slater said he thought the competition should continue, before later throwing his support behind the WSL.

Kelly Slater at the World Surf League event in Margaret River

"I'll go with backing their decision," the 11-time world champion said.

"I can only speak for myself if I were there and I would choose to surf.

"But there were 100 whales washed up 20 minutes south of Margaret's just a month ago which I'm sure is gonna make surfing around there a bit sharkier in coming months and years.

"So maybe the two shark instances the other day were just a precursor to the larger issue they might experience in the west in the near future.

"I hope not but we'll see."

Almost 150 pilot whales died in March after a mass stranding at Hamelin Bay, about 35 kilometres south of Margaret River and 50km from Gracetown, with authorities issuing a shark advice alert for the area.

Rescuers help six surviving whales back out to sea after mass stranding

Slater points to world rankings

Slater also suggested there were differing opinions about why some competitors did not want to carry on at Margaret River.

Gabriel Medina is seen surfing in a barrel.

"There are a few theories about who did and didn't want to surf and the larger effects on the [world] rankings," he said.

"The most vocal against haven't had a great record at Margs so we can only be left to wonder if that played into the fear of surfing."

Former world champion Gabriel Medina and current WSL ratings leader Italo Ferreira took to social media with their safety concerns in the immediate aftermath of the attacks.

Medina later ramped up his comments, saying Margaret River was "not safe" and the most dangerous place to surf in the world before adding he was unlikely to return.

Video has since emerged of what witnesses described as a four-metre shark circling a boat off nearby Dunsborough.

External Link: ABC South West Facebook post: Video showing shark circling boat off Dunsborough

Surfers should surf: Minister

Tourism Minister Paul Papalia, who earlier backed the WSL's decision, has questioned how much it was influenced by the views of some surfers.

A big wave breaks in front of spectators in Margaret River

"They've effectively decided that some surfers can drive which events they hold or not," Mr Papalia said.

"That would be the equivalent of tennis players saying they're not going to play the Australian Open because the weather's too hot or something."

Mr Papalia said the WSL was putting its business in jeopardy by cancelling events because of shark incidents.

"I support the WSL … it was their decision to make, but I would just caution surfers, professional surfers, that their business is surfing," he said.

"If you then put at jeopardy your future business because of a view, a personal view about one particular site, as opposed to any other particular site, then you're putting at jeopardy your business."

The WSL has been contacted for comment.

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