Shark 'eco-barriers' will be installed at the New South Wales north coast beach where a local surfer was attacked, the Minister for Primary Industries has confirmed.

Key points: 20yo surfer in induced coma after shark attack at Ballina

20yo surfer in induced coma after shark attack at Ballina Shark 'eco-barriers' to be installed at Lighthouse Beach

Shark 'eco-barriers' to be installed at Lighthouse Beach Surfers criticise Government for not acting quickly enough

Surfers criticise Government for not acting quickly enough DPI boat on way to Byron Bay over shark sightings

Sam Morgan, 20, underwent surgery and was put in an induced coma at a Gold Coast hospital after being bitten by a bull shark at Ballina on Tuesday evening.

Mr Morgan was surfing on his own at Lighthouse Beach about 6:30pm when he was bitten on the left thigh.

He made his own way out of the water before being helped by beachgoers until paramedics arrived and he was flown to hospital.

Lennox Head-Ballina surfing club criticised the State Government on what it said was slow action on shark-deterrent technology.

But Primary Industries Minister Niall Blair said the latest meshing technology, which has been trialled in Western Australia, would be installed at Lighthouse Beach this summer.

Surfer Sam Morgan is in an induced coma after a shark attack at Ballina. ( Facebook: Le-Ba Boardriders )

"There were meetings, even as early as Monday this week, to look at the types of eco-barriers that we could put in at Lighthouse Beach," Mr Blair said.

The nylon eco-barriers run from the seabed to the water's surface, and from shoreline to shoreline, to create a protected enclosure for swimming.

While the nets separate swimmers from sharks, they do not capture sharks or other marine life as other nets can.

The State Government has been considering locations for the trial of a range of shark detection and deterrent measures under a $16 million, five-year integrated shark strategy.

Shark bite marks in Sam Morgan's surfboard. ( ABC News: Elloise Farrow-Smith )

The measures include increased aerial surveillance using helicopters and drones, eco-barrier nets at some beaches, smart drum lines, a shark-tagging program, and detection and deterrence devices such as sonar and 4G buoys.

In a WA trial an eco-barrier with a wide-mesh design was found to have successfully deterred sharks while having a structure that prevented other marine life getting caught in it.

The president of the local Le-Ba Boardriders Club said the time had come to take decisive action.

"I don't know what it takes, it's like a revolving door at the moment, it's just going round and round," Don Munro said.

"It's taken the Minister and the Premier, I think, quite a long time to really move on it.

"Realistically, I mean getting something done immediately; they've talked about a lot of things now that they want to implement, let's see it happen now.

NSW integrated shark strategy An investment of more than $16 million over five years

An investment of more than $16 million over five years Will include ongoing aerial surveillance

Will include ongoing aerial surveillance Two new technology barrier nets will be initially trialled at north coast beaches, with a view to additional four trials on other NSW beaches

Two new technology barrier nets will be initially trialled at north coast beaches, with a view to additional four trials on other NSW beaches 20 4G shark-listening stations, to provide real-time tracking data of tagged sharks

"Yes, we want that to happen now, we need that to happen now."

Mr Blair said the Government was acting as quickly as it could.

"We've had the meetings to determine where we are going to put them, the manufacturers then are the ones that have to build them to be site-specific," he said.

"If this was easy we would have had them in the water."

'Something needs to be done'

Earlier, Ballina's mayor David Wright demanded the Government bring in planned extra aerial patrols, eco-shark nets and more lifeguards immediately.

Sam Morgan underwent surgery after being bitten on the thigh by a shark. ( Facebook: Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter )

"[We need the measures] because we're going to have people in the water and we've got to make it as safe as possible," he said.

Premier Mike Baird said the Government was working on installing protective measures as soon as possible.

"We are in discussions with the manufacturer [of eco-nets and] we are trying to get them built and installed as quickly as possible on the north coast," he said.

"In addition, we are increasing surveillance.

"The Mayor today has said, 'is it possible to go further in terms of surveillance?'...we've said 'yes, we will, and we're happy to support in any way we can'.

"We are doing everything we can to protect our swimmers."

However, Mr Baird again ruled out culling sharks on the north coast.

"The sharks that have been tagged in that region... if you look at where they are at the moment, there are some down in Victoria, there are some right up the top of the country in far north Queensland.

"Culling has been proven not to be effective."

Ballina surfer Dave Drinkwater was at Lighthouse Beach this morning, but told the ABC he did not go in the water.

He said the local council and community had been patient in waiting for the State Government to act on the shark issue.

"The vibe in the water is not good as you can imagine when you've got your kids in the water but it's part of our culture and that's what we do, we surf, and we're not about to stop but in this year, having three or four attacks, there needs to be something done," he said.

Another Ballina man told the ABC he was reconsidering his future after 30 years as a surfer.

"I think after this last attack I'm just going to stay out of the water," Paul, who only gave his first name, said.

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"I've been a surfer for 30 years and I've rarely seen a shark and I'm just probably one of the lucky ones I guess."

Meanwhile, a senior Ballina life saver said two large sharks were spotted near the spot where Mr Morgan was bitten yesterday.

Gary Meredith said earlier in the day a great white was spotted at Lennox Head, and a bull shark was seen near the mouth of the Richmond River, but no-one was in the water.

"If there was a surf school we would go down and ask the people to clear the water; same if it was on the beach," Mr Meredith said.

"If there was a shark sighted and it's in close proximity to swimmers or board riders we usually clear the water and close that area for a 30-minute period."

Mr Meredith told the ABC a Department of Primary Industries (DPI) boat was currently on its way to Byron Bay, where two large great whites were spotted this morning.

Lighthouse Beach on the New South Wales north coast has been closed since the attack. ( ABC News: Elloise Farrow-Smith )

Emotionally, you never get over shark injuries: mayor

Cr Wright said shark attack injuries leave more than just physical scars.

Sam Morgan was bitten on the thigh by a bull shark while surfing alone at Lighthouse Beach. ( Instagram: Greg Hodgson )

"These are injuries I think, emotionally, you'll never get over," he said.

"My first thought went to all the other victims that we've seen this year and those who rescued them because they fall apart."

A surfer was mauled to death in the Ballina area in February and 12 others have been involved in shark-related incidents in the months following on the NSW north coast.

Further down the coast, a man suffered lacerations to the bone on his leg in a shark attack at Black Head Beach north of Forster, on the mid-north coast, in September.

In August, a bodyboarder was bitten by a shark at Lighthouse Beach, south of Port Macquarie, also on the mid-north coast.

Further south, a surfer suffered minor puncture wounds after being bitten close to shore at North Shelly Beach, north of Gosford on the central coast, in September.

Beaches along an 18-kilometre stretch from Ballina to Lennox Head have been closed for at least 24 hours.

NSW Police, the DPI and Surf Life Saving New South Wales are jointly investigating the latest attack.

Schools of fish at the 'North Wall' at Lighthouse Beach in Ballina last month. ( Supplied: Andrew Trease )