A rare catch-and-kill order has been issued for a great white shark off the coast of Western Australia after a 63-year-old swimmer was killed at a popular beach on Friday. The victim, Greg O'Neill, was attacked at Sorrento Beach in Perth's north. His body has not been recovered.

Authorities closed beaches along the state's coast, including in the capital Perth, until at least Sunday as the search for the shark continues.

In a statement, O'Neill's family said they were "deeply shocked and devastated by the terrible tragedy." "Greg loved the ocean and was known as a passionate swimmer, sports lover, dedicated worker and an all-round generous, witty guy." On Saturday, family members visited the scene, where locals had been laying flowers.

Witness Jacqui Rapaic said two men were swimming but only one made it back to shore, and that she could see "a pool of blood" in the water. Another witness said she saw the man being "mauled" as the shark "tossed him around like a fish." Members of the public reported seeing a shark approximately 2.5 metres (8ft 2in) long at around the same time.

Catch-and-kill orders are rare and controversial in Australia, where great white sharks are a protected species. Western Australia Fisheries Minister Jackie Jarvis said she took the "extraordinary step" of issuing the order after the shark was spotted by water police on Saturday morning and "positively identified as the shark involved in the incident."

Jarvis said she authorised fisheries officers to "destroy the shark" if it could be captured, citing the "exceptional circumstances" of the attack and the "hazard posed by the shark." She added that it is believed to be the first time in ten years such an order had been issued in Western Australia, and emphasised that it was not a widespread cull.

The minister also announced that the use of drones and tagging would be increased to help protect beachgoers.

Joondalup authorities, in whose jurisdiction Sorrento falls, said all beaches were closed "as a precautionary measure" and would remain so until at least midday on Sunday. The coastline was patrolled on Saturday by a police boat and helicopter.

The incident is the second shark attack in Western Australia this week. On Monday, a 56-year-old man was bitten while surfing off the coast of Geraldton, approximately 430 kilometres north of Perth. He survived but lost part of his leg, according to another surfer who rescued him.

It is the third fatal shark attack in Western Australia this year, and the fifth in Australia overall. A 12-year-old boy died after being bitten in Sydney Harbour in January. Three divers were fatally mauled in separate incidents between May and June, two in Western Australia and one in Queensland.

Catching and killing sharks has a long and contentious history in the state. In 2014, months of large-scale protests followed after the Western Australia government authorised a shark cull in response to a series of attacks.