News and Alerts

Update on 20 July at 5.45pm

The City of Bunbury has been working throughout the day to remove the whale carcass from Back Beach Bunbury. 

Heavy machinery was bought in and the whale carcass was lifted from the water’s edge and relocated further up the beach before being wrapped in a lifting net in preparation for a crane. 

A crane has since been bought in to lift the carcass onto a waiting truck, where it will be transported and disposed in landfill.

The works are nearing completion and it is expected the whale carcass will be removed this evening. 

The beach is to remain closed for 24 hours. 

Update on 19 July at 3:00pm

Officers from Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Attractions have attended at Point Cloates north of Coral Bay, where there was an earlier report of a stranded whale.

The officers were unable to locate the whale due to the higher tide than when first reported. A surveillance aircraft was deployed and after a thorough search of the area it has been determined that the whale is no longer beached in this area. 

Use your Sea Sense and stay informed by checking for shark activity on the SharkSmart website or Surf Life Saving WA’s Twitter feed.

If you see a shark, report it to Water Police on 9442 8600. All shark sighting information reported to Water Police is provided to land managers and relevant authorities and to the public on the SharkSmart website and Surf Life Saving WA Twitter feed.

Update on 11 July at 9:00am

The whale carcass south of Lombadina Community has been identified as a seven (7) metre humpback and is currently lying ashore with neap tides. 

Local Rangers and DBCA staff are monitoring the carcass, however due to the remote location the carcass is not able to be removed and is expected to decompose naturally.

Alert level:

A shark ADVICE has been issued due to a three (3) metre humpback calf whale carcass being reported ashore at Wedge Island, north of Lancelin.

Update on 3 July at 11.30am

Officers from the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions have removed the remaining whale carcass from Wyadup Beach.

Beach closure signs will be removed from 6pm today at which time the beach will be re-opened.

Divers, surfers and swimmers are advised to continue to take care as residues from the carcass may continue to act as an attractant to sharks. 

If you see a shark, report it to Water Police on 9442 8600.

Update on 3 July at 11.30am

Officers from the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions have advised the whale carcass at Guillotines surfing area is no longer present and has been washed away or broken down during recent storms.

Beach closure signs will be removed from 1pm today at which time the beach will be re-opened.

Divers, surfers and swimmers are advised to continue to take care as residues from the carcass may continue to act as an attractant to sharks.

If you see a shark, report it to Water Police on 9442 8600.

Update on 27 June at 1pm

Officers from the City Of Albany have removed the whale carcass from Two Peoples Bay.

Due to the residues of the carcass the beach will remain closed for the next 24 hours.

If you see a shark, report it to Water Police on 9442 8600.

Update on 27 June at 9:44am

Fisheries officers attended the site this morning to assess the situation and confirmed one of the whale carcasses has been removed, as reported yesterday.

The second whale carcass reported at that location is situated at the north eastern corner of Two Peoples Bay and will be removed this afternoon by the City of Albany.

Residue from the carcass may continue to act as an attractant to sharks.

If you see a shark, report it toWater Police on 9442 8600. 

Update on 14 June at 11:45am

Scheduled system maintenance affecting the Shark Monitoring Network was successfully completed on the evening of Thursday 13 June 2019.

The Shark Monitoring Network is now fully operational. There were no tagged shark detections during the maintenance period.

Bring your Sea Sense to the beach. Stay informed of the latest detections and sighting information by checking the Shark Activity Map on the SharkSmart website – www.sharksmart.com.au/shark-activity or the Surf Life Saving WA Twitter – twitter.com/SLSWA.

The Shark Notification System forms part of a range of shark hazard mitigation strategies in place.  See www.sharksmart.com.au for additional information.

If you see a shark, report it to Water Police on 9442 8600.

Update 24 May at 7pm

Parks and Wildlife staff attended the site at 13:30 today with machinery to remove the carcass if practical. 

The carcass had moved approximately 500 metres north along the beach overnight and is in an area which is accessible by foot, but not by vehicle, and therefore removal is not possible at present.

The carcass has reduced in size overnight from an estimated eight (8) metres to approximately 3 to 4 metres in length and is not expected to move further north along the beach.

The decomposing whale may continue to act as an attractant to sharks.

In response, Parks and Wildlife staff have erected shark risk signs at key entry points and spoken with local campers and the pastoralist about potential shark risks.

A Regulation 44 beach closure is now in place for the CALM land comprising the Ningaloo Marine Park (terrestrial portion) adjacent Warroora Station, from the headland immediately south of the Lagoon Campsite (23°32'32.19"S, 113°43'59.71"E) to the headland immediately south of the Southern Boundary campsite (23°33'31.27"S, 113°42'57.04"E). 

The closure includes the area from the shoreline to one kilometre out to sea. This means beaches and waters in this area cannot be used by divers, surfers and swimmers. This closure does not apply to vessels.

The closure will remain in force at least until 6pm on Friday 31 May 2019, however further reviews will be conducted up until this date.