Great white killed diver: fisheries

A great white shark is believed to have been responsible for the death of a 33-year-old Perth diver, West Australian Fisheries officers say.

Peter Kurmann was diving from a boat called Vampire about 1.6km off Stratham Beach, 230km south of Perth, when a shark about four metres long attacked just before 9.30am (WST) on Saturday.

The mauled body of the businessman and father of two young children was recovered from the water by his 34-year-old brother Gian, assisted by the crew of a nearby boat, and taken south to Busselton.

WA's Fisheries Department confirmed on Sunday the shark was likely to have been a great white.

"A Department of Fisheries scientist has advised police that, based on his experience, evidence he has examined indicates that a white shark was by all signs responsible for the attack," Shark Response Unit spokesman Tony Cappelluti said in a statement.

"It wasn't possible for the scientist to confirm the estimated size of the shark, but information given to police suggests it was around four metres in length."

Mr Cappelluti said three set-lines were put in the water to try to catch any sharks that remained in the area, after an aerial patrol spotted a three-to-four metre shark at about 2.30pm (WST) on Saturday.

"The catch gear was removed from the water by nightfall and at this time there have been no further shark sightings since yesterday afternoon," he said.

"Fisheries and marine officers are on standby in (WA's) southwest to respond to any further sightings, but the weather is whipping up heavy and choppy seas, which would make it difficult to make any sightings from the air or ocean today."

Mr Cappelluti said resetting the shark lines would be dependent on weather and sea conditions.

Beaches remain closed between Cape Naturaliste and Bunbury, and will remain closed until local authorities made a further assessment later on Sunday or early Monday, he said.