The Margaret River Pro surfing event could be moved to Kalbarri, more than 650 kilometres north of Perth, with organisers looking at alternative locations to keep the World Surf League (WSL) event in Western Australia for the long term.

Doubts surround the future of the tournament after this year's event at Margaret River was cancelled due to safety concerns after two shark attacks near Gracetown.

The attacks on the recreational surfers took place about 6 kilometres away from the primary event site at Main Break.

Alejandro Travaglini bodysurfed to shore after being mauled by a shark just kilometres from where the Margaret River Pro was being held. ( Supplied: Peter Jovic )

Alejandro Travaglini, 37, required surgery to both legs after he was attacked at Cobblestones beach, while 41-year-old Jason Longrass walked to an ambulance after he was bitten on the leg at nearby Lefthanders break.

At the time, Brazilian professional surfer Gabriel Medina — who along with Italo Ferreira said he did not feel safe competing in the Margaret River region — welcomed the decision by organisers to cancel the rest of the event.

Brazilian Gabriel Medina said he no longer felt safe competing in the Margaret River area. ( WSL: Damien Poullenot )

The event is contracted to remain in WA for 2019, but the reluctance of some high-profile surfers to return to the area has created doubt about the event's future in WA's South West.

Reports emerged in surfing publication Tracks Magazine on Friday that organisers had held preliminary talks about moving the tournament to Jake's Point in Kalbarri or even Gnaraloo, which is about 150 kilometres north of Carnarvon.

Shire of Northampton president Craig Simkin said a phone call was received from event organisers last week, asking if the tournament could be held in the region.

"It's only in preliminary investigations at this point. I don't know how big the event will be or what the proposal is that's going to be forwarded … but I'm sure that the shire would promote it," he said.

"An event like this coming to our Midwest Batavia Coast region would be certainly beneficial, I think it will showcase our region."

Sorry, this video has expired Shark attack victim flown to Royal Perth Hospital

'The boys don't want it': Boardriders

President of Kalbarri Boardriders Association Kit Rayner said he and other members of the group had met with Surfing WA representatives to discuss the proposal.

"We at the Kalbarri Boardriders and surfers were all opposed to it," Mr Rayner said.

"They want a world-class left-hander on their schedule and Gnaraloo and Kalbarri were put in the equation and the Bluff I think."

Remote Gnaraloo has been suggested as an alternative site. ( supplied: Paul Richardson )

Mr Rayner said the biggest concern was the potential environmental impact.

"It's a small town, it's a one wave town and it's all for environmental reasons. We just don't think the small town of Kalbarri could support a contest of that size," he said.

"Too many people on the beach, the sand dunes, it probably can't support that. There's no toilets down there, there's no nothing.

"Most travelling surfers would like to keep Kalbarri how it is and same goes with Gnaraloo.

"We hope it just goes back to WASL and they say 'no, the boys don't want it, we'll leave it at that'."

Gnaraloo station owner and manager Paul Richardson said he thought moving the event north would be great for the whole north west region.

"I don't see them coming just for the one thing, they would probably spend some more time in the region, which would be a great boost for all the local towns," Mr Richardson said.

"Carnarvon, Coral Bay, Exmouth — everyone would benefit."

Sorry, this video has expired Second man attacked by shark in WA's South West

'Apathetic approach' to shark mitigation

Liberal MP Libby Mettam, whose electorate Vasse is in the state's South West, said losing the high-profile competition would be a be a blow to Margaret River and to WA tourism in general.

She said the Labor Government should have done more to ensure the safety of surfers, and also given confidence to the World Surf League that the event could continue.

"There is no doubt that the Government's apathetic approach to shark mitigation in this state has a role to play in the fact that World Surf League are looking at other locations," Ms Mettam said.

"The Minister for Tourism should have fought for that event then and there; it was a couple of Brazilian surfers that had raised that concern but other competitors were quite comfortable [for the event to continue]."

The Government rejected Ms Mettam's criticism.

"If we left it to the former Liberal National Government the Margaret River Pro would have ended long ago," a spokesperson said.

"When the event's five-year contract came to an end last year, there was speculation it may be dropped from the championship circuit, but after extensive campaigning by the McGowan Government and Surfing WA the event was secured for another two years."

Event vital to keep local businesses going

Augusta Margaret River Shire President Pam Townsend said local businesses had come to rely on the event.

"They gear up for it, they're all ready every year for this huge injection of visitors and money into our region," Ms Townsend said.

"It's a small region and we rely on these sorts of icon events to really keep a lot of our businesses going.

"People would be very disappointed to see the Pro move away; young surfers can't wait for their heroes and heroines to come into their community and they can watch them up close."

In a statement, Tourism WA said it had an agreement with Surfing WA to hold the Margaret River Pro in 2019, but also confirmed it was in talks with Surfing WA and the WSL about future years.

Tourism Minister Paul Papalia told the ABC last month that negotiations had started on a new three-year deal to keep a WCT event in Western Australia.