UPDATE: Police are searching waters off Esperance for the body of a diver who was killed by a shark this afternoon.

The attack happened shortly before 1.30pm off Cull Island near West Beach in the south coast town.

Surf Life Saving WA confirmed the attack was fatal and carried out by a great white shark.

A WA Police spokesperson said the man was diving near a boat at the time of the attack.

A woman who was in the boat in the time has been taken to Esperance Hospital to be treated for shock.

The man’s body is yet to be recovered and Department of Fisheries officers, local police and marine rescue volunteers are patrolling the area.

The area is understood to be a popular abalone diving spot for locals.

Esperance Shire president Ian Mickel said attack was another devastating blow for the region over the holiday period following the passing of a toddler during a Grass Patch vehicle incident, the so far unsuccessful search and rescue efforts for a missing 21-year-old man off Twilight Beach and fires to the north-east blocking major roads in the area.

“I think it’s a real tragedy to lose people enjoying the ocean,” Mr Mickel said.

“We have thousands of people having a good time on the water and [to] get a fatal shark attack - It’s a major concern.

“There is a lot being done with Shark Smart, we’ve got the majority of our surfers contributing to that. Tagged sharks are registering against the buoys [receivers]… but this is really tragic.”

Camera Icon A supplied image of teenage shark attack victim Laeticia Brouwer. Laeticia was killed in a shark at the Kelp Beds in Esperance on Monday 17th April 2017. This image was supplied by the family. Credit: Supplied

This is the second fatal shark attack in the region in less than three years.

Laeticia Brouwer, 17, died after being attacked near Wylie Bay in 2017.

Sean Pollard was attacked by two great white sharks nearby in 2014, and the Bunbury local lost his left arm and right hand in the attack.

Last month, Shire of Esperance councillor Shelly Payne said more was needed to be done to warn the public about possiblity of shark attacks.

Councillors unanimously adopted her motion to erect a permanent sign at the four-wheel-drive entrance to Wylie Bay advising people to check online for recent shark sightings.

They also agreed that all temporary shark warning signs erected by the Shire of Esperance was to include information on how to access the Sharksmart website to check for recent shark sightings, and also to develop a written shark response policy.

Camera Icon Sean Pollard after being attacked by a shark near Esperance in 2014. Credit: WA News

A State Government trial of SMART drum-lines along the the South West coast near Gracetown is run by Cr Payne’s husband Marc.

The trial began in February. Sharks caught on the lines are tagged and relocated and released on metre from shore.

A member of a Facebook group dedicated to ocean safety in Esperance demanded drum-lines be immediately deployed at Cull Island.

“Nothing has happened to reduce the likelihood of an attack. Now history has repeated itself as I and many others have stated,” wrote Mitch Capelli on the Ocean Safety and Support Esperance Facebook page.