A spearfisher was killed on Saturday in the third fatal shark attack in Western Australia in the past month.

The 35-year-old was bitten by a suspected 4.5-metre shark off Michaelmas Island near Albany in Western Australia’s south west.

“He was conveyed back to shore by boat where he was met by paramedics,” WA Police said in a statement.

“Sadly, he was unable to be revived.”

WA Premier Roger Cook said he was “deeply saddened” by the incident.

“This is a tragedy and my thoughts are with the victim’s family and friends, as well as the first responders,” he said in a Facebook post.

“I know members of the community will wrap their arms around them.”

Michaelmas Cay in the Great Barrier Reef. Photo: Getty

Commercial fisherman Gregory Sharp told the ABC there had been an increase in shark activity in the area in recent weeks.

“We do see an increase in larger sharks this time of the year, particularly chasing the sardine and the salmon along the coast, which is quite normal,” he said.

“[And] particularly in areas where there’s a lot of seals, and the island area in King George Sound is renowned for seals.”

Authorities urged people to take additional caution in the Michaelmas Island area and adhere to beach closures.

The death comes after 39-year-old spearfisher Michael Jensz suffered unsurvivable head injuries in an attack on the Great Barrier Reef on May 24. Bull sharks had been seen in the vicinity .

Father of two, Steven “Mattas” Mattaboni, was also killed by a shark while diving at Horseshoe Reef off Rottnest Island near Perth on May 16.

The 38-year-old was pulled from the water after being bitten and was rushed by boat to a jetty at Geordie Bay on the north side of the island.

Paramedics were unable to revive him.

A five-metre white shark was spotted 80 metres offshore about the time of that attack, according to Surf Life Saving WA.

Police will prepare a report for the coroner.

Michaelmas Island is about 15 kilometres from the seaside town of Albany, which is about a five-hour drive from Perth.

The spate of three fatalities is extraordinary when compared to an average of around three shark deaths a year in recent decades.

Australia’s only other fatal shark attack this year was in January, when a 12-year-old boy died in a hospital days after being mauled by a bull shark in Sydney Harbour.

-with AAP