News and Alerts

Update on 12 August at 11:20am

Officers from Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions have attend the area where two whale carcasses were beached at Windy Harbour and have assessed that the remains of both whales have been taken out to sea and broken up naturally. 

There are no longer any visible remains. 

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

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.

• New campaign to encourage more surfers to purchase a scientifically proven personal shark deterrent
• Surfers and divers save $200 with Government rebate 
• About 570 surfers among more than 3,700 Western Australians to purchase a device

With surfers carving up the big winter swells rolling in along our coast, Fisheries Minister Dave Kelly today launched a new campaign to encourage more surfers to switch on their Sea Sense and purchase a scientifically proven personal shark deterrent. 

Alert level:

A shark WARNING has been issued for all metropolitan beaches in the Perth area after an increased number of reported shark detections.

Update on 9 August at 12:50pm 

System maintenance affecting the Shark Monitoring Network receiver located 2.5 kilometres off Trigg has been successfully completed.

The Shark Monitoring Network is now fully operational. 

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.

Update on 7 August at 9:00am

A whale carcass that had come ashore 100 metres north of the main access to the beach, on 5 August 2019, has now been removed. A second whale carcass remains located on the north-east corner of Wedge Island.

The waters within a one kilometre radius of both locations are closed under a Regulation 44 closure issued by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, due to residue.

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.

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.

Alert level:

A shark ADVICE has been issued due to a 2.5 metre pilot whale carcass being reported at Cosy Corner Beach, East of Denmark. The carcass has been removed this afternoon by the Albany Council, however residues from the carcass may still act as a shark attractant in the area.

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.