News & Alerts

Update on 9 December at 1.00pm:

The sperm whale carcass reported near Hopetoun has now been removed from the beach.

Caution is still advised as any residue from where the carcass was beached may still attract sharks to the area.

Alert issued 1 December:

Alert level:
A shark ADVICE has been issued due to a whale carcass being reported at Two-mile Beach east of Hopetoun.

Update on 4 December at 12.35pm:

• The satellite-linked receiver fault at Smiths Beach has been repaired
• The Shark Monitoring Network is now fully functional

Alert issued 29 November:

Alert level:
A shark ADVICE has been issued for Western Australian water users due to a partial outage in the shark notification system.

• ​Subsidy funding doubled with an additional $200,000 allocated for a further 1,000 devices
• UWA research found that the approved device deterred white sharks in nine out of 10 occasions
• All shark sightings should be reported to Water Police on 9442 8600 

Update on 15 November at 1pm:

The  shark advice remains in place for Alexander Point east of Duke of Orleans Bay

• The whale carcass is badly decomposed and has washed ashore on the eastern side of Alexander Point.
• Due to the location and state of decomposition the whale will not be removed.
• There is likely to be residue from the carcass in the area that will continue to act as a shark attractant.
• Two white sharks have been sighted in the area.
• Water users and people visiting the area should continue to exercise additional caution

Alert issued 13 November:

Alert level:
A shark ADVICE has been issued, due to a whale carcass being reported at Alexander Point east of Duke of Orleans Bay near Esperance

Update on 12 November at 12.25pm:

The carcass of the pilot whale carcass reported at Boranup Beach near Hamelin Bay has now been removed.

Caution is still advised as any residue from where the carcass was beached may still attract sharks to the area.

Alert issued 11 November:

Alert level:
A shark ADVICE has been issued due to a whale carcass being reported at Boranup Beach near Hamelin Bay.

Update on 9 November at 10.40am:

There have been no further sightings of two of the five stranded whale carcasses. Three of the whale carcasses have been removed and taken to a landfill site. It’s believed the remaining two carcasses may have refloated and been swept out to sea, but it is possible they could beach again. Please report any whale carcass or shark sighting to Water Police on 9442 8600.  

Update on 6 November at 2.50pm:

A fifth long-finned whale carcass has now been located at Hamelin Island.

Alert issued 6 November:

Alert level:
A shark ADVICE has been issued due to four whale carcasses being reported on the western side of Hamelin Island.

Update on 5 November at 2.30pm:

The whale carcass reported at Boranup Beach has now been removed.

Caution is still advised as any residue from where the carcass was beached may still attract sharks to the area.

Alert issued 4 November:

Alert level:
A shark ADVICE has been issued due to a whale carcass being reported at Boranup Beach near the town of Margaret River.

Alert level:

A shark ADVICE has been issued following reports of a whale carcass on the beach five kilometres south of Eco Beach, near Broome.

Update on 28 September at 10.30am:

The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions has re-opened the area from North Point to Lefthanders surfing spot from 10.00am today. 

Alert issued 26 September:

Alert level:
A shark WARNING has been issued for North Point near Gracetown after an interaction with a shark was reported at 6.45pm on 25 September 2017. The interaction reportedly occurred at 5.50pm.

• More than 630 Western Australians have taken part in the world-first trial subsidy
• UWA research found that approved devices deterred great white sharks in nine out of 10 occasions
• All shark sightings should be reported to the Water Police on 9442 8600