A dead great white shark has been pulled from nets off Bondi Beach, just days out from a charity ocean swim at the Sydney icon.
The 2.5-metre carcass was found about 500m from the beach during a routine patrol of the nets on Wednesday by specialist contractors for the Department of Primary Industries (DPI).
An autopsy will be carried out for research purposes, the department said.
Contractors check nets at least every 72 hours to see if any marine life is caught and, if possible, set it free.
The NSW shark meshing program has been in operation since 1937 and is said to protect around two million swimmers a year.
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Manly Sea Life Sanctuary senior aquarist Marty Garwood said the size of the shark suggested it was a juvenile and not more than a couple of years old.
Australia's east coast, particularly Sydney and northern NSW, is a known congregation site for the young sharks, but he said that did not represent a greater risk for swimmers.
"We do see increased numbers during certain times of the year but they migrate away and the juveniles obviously don't pose as great a risk as the larger adults do on the west coast of Australia," Mr Garwood said.
Hundreds of swimmers are set to descend on the beach on Saturday for the inaugural Bondi Splash `n Dash - a run and swim event to raise money for a youth centre in Waverley.
More than 300 people have registered for the race, but organiser and star of Bondi Rescue Andrew Reid said he didn't expect the shark's discovery to deter anyone from competing.
"Obviously there is the risk of it, but we'll be putting every system in place we can to ensure that it doesn't happen," Mr Reid said.
Three inflatable rescue boats, two lifeguard jet skis and several board paddlers and rescue tubes will be on hand to monitor the situation, he added.
