Sharks sightings raise concerns in Byron Bay

Lifeguards say they are facing a dilemma about how to deal with a wave of shark sightings in Byron Bay on the New South Wales north coast.

The northern region lifeguard coordinator, Steven Leahy, says he will be meeting officials in Sydney later today to discuss the problem.

He says an incident near Byron Bay's Main Beach yesterday was the eighth reported sighting in the area over the past month.

Mr Leahy says two girls were forced to scramble onto an exposed shipwreck after spotting the shark.

"They were able to climb up on top of 'The Wreck' and scream for help," he said.

"A surfer approached them and he too was approached by the shark. He swam away and notified police and the lifesaving response team.

"The response team attended and were able to pluck the girls from 'The Wreck' and get them back to the beach."

Mr Leahy says at this stage it is impossible to say how many sharks may be involved.

"A number of people have given us similar descriptions. Nevertheless other people have stated that the sharks that they've seen have been great whites and white pointers, we've heard tiger sharks and bronze whalers and bull sharks from other people, but certainly the last couple of descriptions indicate a mako shark," he said.