Australia mulls shark cull after teenage surfer's death

Australia is considering a shark cull following the death of a 17-year-old girl, a government minister has said.

Laeticia Brouwer was on a family holiday at a popular surfer break known as Kelp Beds, near the town of Esperance on the south coast of Western Australia, when she was mauled to death by a shark.

Her father was surfing with her and brought her to shore following the attack, which was reportedly witnessed from the beach by the teenager's mother and sisters.

The teenager had lost a leg and was bleeding heavily. She later died of her injuries.

Environment minister Josh Frydenberg told The West Australian: "In light of the recent shark attack, the Commonwealth would welcome any proposal to protect human life first and foremost.

"This could include the newest drum line technology, shark exclusion nets, culling or other measures which WA sees fit."

However, the state government said it would not be deploying drum lines following Monday's fatality - the third deadly attack in the state in 12 months.

WA fisheries minister David Kelly described the surfer's death as a "tragedy".

But he said the new Labor government had "made it clear in opposition that we don't see the merit in automatically deploying drum lines because they don't actually make our beaches any safer".

It is unclear which species of shark attacked the teenager.

According to government website Shark Smart WA, a medium-sized great white had been spotted in the area twice during the past week.

Officials have closed Wylie Bay beach until further notice and people have been urged to stay out of the water.