News & Alerts

The start of this year’s salmon run along WA’s South and South-West coasts looks to be right on time for the Easter school holidays.

With holidaymakers hitting the beach for surfing, fishing and swimming – staying safe during the Autumn salmon run is important and avoiding the large schools of fish which can attract sharks, seals, sealions and dolphins inshore.

• Margaret River to receive a new shark monitoring receiver to boost safety for local surfers
• Receiver to be installed in time for Margaret River Pro
• Cook Government building safe communities

• New beach enclosure going in the water at Bathers Beach in time for summer
• Cook Government committed up to $500,000 to the City of Fremantle for the installation of the enclosure
• Download the SharkSmart WA app to stay informed
• Cook Government committed to building safer communities

• Cook Government investing $13.2 million towards Surf Life Saving Western Australia's (SLSWA) aerial and beach surveillance
• 2025/26 aerial patrols begin on 6 September and fly through until the end of April
• SLSWA is a key partner for WA's comprehensive shark hazard mitigation strategy

• Cook Government providing $300,000 over three years to support Surfing WA shark hazard mitigation initiatives
• Surfers Rescue 365 program to be expanded into regional areas and online
• SharkSmart education messages key part of WA’s shark hazard mitigation strategy

The annual run of Australian salmon schools along the WA coast during Autumn is a favourite time on the fishing calendar and comes with a reminder to put safety first.

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) encourages all fishers to be aware of coastal safety, particularly in unfamiliar locations. 

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.