THE number of shark sightings off SA coasts this summer — including this 7m great white at Marino Rocks on Sunday — is sharply higher than the same time in previous years.

Surf Lifesaving Australia says the huge shark — about the same size as the fictional monsters that terrorised folk in the Jaws series of movies — was seen about 200m offshore at Marino Rocks.

The Westpac Lifesaver Rescue helicopter tried to herd the shark out to sea and it made its way in to deeper water and had not been seen again.

Police were alerted by surf lifesavers and participants at a junior Surf Life Saving Carnival at nearby Seacliff beach were cleared from the water.

“It’s the biggest I’ve ever seen as a crew member in the Westpac chopper. We put it down as 7m the photo really doesn’t do it justice,” an unnamed crew member wrote on the Facebook page of Shark Alerts SA.

media_camera The shark spotted by Malcolm White at North Haven on Sunday. Picture: Malcolm White/Facebook

Shark Alerts said a jetboat was used to compare the size and the shark was bigger.

The pictures caused a stir on social media, with some swearing never to step foot in the ocean again, and others arguing the great white was unlikely to be that large and labelling the sighting a “fisherman’s tale”.

Surf Life Saving SA confirmed 53 shark sightings so far this season, compared to 30 sightings same time last year and 39 sightings in 2013/14.

“While there is no evidence at this time that there is any greater risk than in previous years, Surf Life Saving SA in consultation with officers from SA Police and PIRSA Fishwatch, encourage everyone using the water to be aware that there are large schools of fish moving through our waters at this time of year and therefore the chance that a shark(s) may be following these is possible,” chief executive Clare Harris said.

“If a member of the public does see a shark which poses a threat to human safety we recommend that they call 000 and the police will activate the closest emergency service

asset to deal with it and alert the public.”

Several watercrafts searched the area but did not find the shark. They remained in the area for the rest of the afternoon on surveillance duty without incident.

Swimmers were evacuated from Henley Beach on Tuesday around 1.30pm today after a 2m Bronze Whaler was spotted about 30m from shore.

Swimmers were also evacuated on Monday at midday after a 2m shark was spotted about 100m from shore.

The shark was also swimming around Goolwa on Sunday.

And a shark was spotted on Monday about 200m southwest of the marina entrance at North Haven.

Another shark was also seen at North Haven on Sunday morning. Malcolm White encountered the four-metre great white from his boat, 4km out from North Haven.

A shark has been seen about 200m southwest of the marina entrance near the #NorthHaven boat ramp #sharksa — SA Police News (@SAPoliceNews) January 17, 2016

Anton Covino, who managed the Shark Alerts SA Facebook page, said more people were reporting shark sightings with the rise of social media.

“I don’t think there are more sharks in the region but more people are choosing to report shark sightings,” he said.

“It is then up to us to make sure we verify the source.”

Surf Life Saving SA remind the public if they do see a shark to get out of the water, alert others and not to waste time or put themselves in danger by filming or photographing the animal.