News & Alerts

Almost 1800 Beach Emergency Numbers (BEN) signs are now in the ground along Western Australia’s coast from Esperance to the Pilbara, including the Swan River, boosting beach safety this summer. 

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) will replace the three automated shark warning towers along the Esperance coast in the lead up to summer to enhance beach safety. 

DPIRD has been working with the Shire of Esperance to address technical issues with the local shark warning towers which are reaching their end of life, as well as discussing other cooperative arrangements to enhance shark hazard mitigation in the area.

• Cook Labor Government investing $900,000 into beach enclosures as part of State's shark hazard mitigation strategy
• Henderson-based business Franmarine Underwater Services awarded contract for Bathers Beach enclosure
• Cottesloe Beach replacement enclosure to be installed soon

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development’s (DPIRD) successful shark tagging program has tagged 16 white sharks so far this year along the Western Australian coastline. 

Restrictions to stop shark fishing from two major regional jetties which are popular for diving and swimming will come into effect from 1 October.

The State Government will extend the wire trace fishing gear ban, currently in place for the Perth metropolitan area, to include the Esperance Jetty and Busselton Jetty and foreshore area.

• Surf Life Saving WA weekend helicopter patrols underway in time for spring
• Cook Government committing $12.6 million to helicopter patrols and vital frontline safety services over the next four years
• Western Australia's $17.3 million Shark Hazard Mitigation Strategy one of the most comprehensive approaches in the country

• Cook Labor Government commits $500,000 for safe swimming beach enclosure at Fremantle's Bathers Beach, as part of the State's shark hazard mitigation strategy
• Seven new Beach Emergency Number (BEN) signs to be installed along the Swan River
• State Government commits more than $17 million to shark mitigation initiatives 

• $17.3 million boost for Cook Government Shark Hazard Mitigation strategy in 2024-25 State Budget
• New funding includes $12.6 million to continue helicopter patrols and vital frontline safety services over the next four years
• $4.7 million boost to support key measures of the Strategy, one of the most comprehensive approaches in the country

Recent reports of western Australian salmon schools off Albany and the South West Coast are early reminders of the annual and much-awaited salmon run.

It’s good news for fishers that the salmon are turning up in time for Easter, with Good Friday and the school holidays kicking off on 29 March.

Western Australians and tourists are enjoying the State's ocean and river experiences this summer and embracing the State Government's shark mitigation measures to stay safer in the water.

• Downloads of the Cook Government's SharkSmart WA app have passed 150,000 this summer   
• SharkSmart app delivers near real-time alerts and warnings of shark activity along WA coast
• New Bicton Baths beach enclosure providing popular safe swimming spot for families