News and Alerts

Alert level:
With school holidays beginning this weekend, the Department of Fisheries is renewing and extending its shark warnings to the area between Cape Naturaliste and Cape Leeuwin after an increased number of shark sightings in recent weeks.

Situation:

• It is possible that the number of sightings in this area may increase the likelihood of encountering a shark in this area.
• The change in activity may be due to a possible change in environmental conditions as schools of salmon have been reported in the immediate and adjacent areas in the last few weeks.

Alert level:
A shark WARNING has been issued for the area between Injidup Point Beach (south of Yallingup) and Cape Naturaliste after an increased number of shark sightings reported by the Surf Life Saving South West helicopter.

Situation:

• A number of unknown species of sharks has been reported on 25 and 26 March.
• It is possible that the number of sightings in this area may increase the likelihood of encountering a shark in this area.
• The change in activity may be due to a possible change in environmental conditions as schools of salmon have been reported in the immediate and adjacent areas in the last few days.

Alert level:
A shark WARNING has been issued for Other Side of the Moon surfing spot near Cape Naturaliste after an increased number of reported shark sightings by the Surf Life Saving South West helicopter.

Situation:

• A number of unknown species of three metre sharks has been reported over the past two days at 4.15pm on 19 March and 9.23am today (20 March).
• It is possible that the number of sightings in this area may increase the likelihood of encountering a shark in this area.
• The change in activity may be due to a possible change in environmental conditions, as schools of salmon have been reported in the immediate and adjacent areas in the last few days.
• Schools of salmon have been observed from Conto’s surfing spot to Bunker Bay over the last few days.

Alert level:
A shark WARNING has been issued for an area between Cape Naturaliste and Gnarabup area after an increased number of reported shark sightings. Sharks have been reported over the weekend at Windmills, Yallingup North, Other Side of the Moon, Smiths Beach, Honeycombs and Gnarabup.

Situation:

• A number of sharks have been reported in the area, both from public reports and the Surf Lifesaving helicopter over the period of 27 and 28 February 2016.
• A 2.5m shark was sighted at Gnarabup Beach on 27/02 and a 2.5m shark on 28/2.
• A 3.1 m shark was sighted at Honeycombs on 27/2 and a 3.0m shark on 28/2.
• A 3.5 m shark and a 4m shark were sighted at Windmills on 28/2.
• A 3m shark was sighted at Smiths Beach on 28/2.
• A 3m shark was sighted at Other Side of the Moon on 28/2.
• It is possible that the frequency or duration of the recent sightings may increase the likelihood of encountering a shark in this area. The change in activity may be due to a possible change in environmental conditions. There have been reports of unusually high numbers of schooling tuna in the area.

Alert level:
A shark WARNING has been issued for the area between Other Side of the Moon Surf Spot and Windmills Surf Spot around Cape Naturaliste after an increased number of reported shark sightings over the weekend.

Situation:

• Reports of several large sharks, species unknown have been reported over the weekend.
• 2 x 3m sharks sighted were sighted on 21/02, and 1 x 3m shark was sighted on 20/02 at Other Side of the Moon Surf Spot, south of Cape Naturaliste.
• 2 x 3m sharks were sighted on 21/02, at the adjacent Windmills Surfing Spot, south of Cape Naturaliste.
• It is possible that the frequency of the recent reported sightings may increase the likelihood of encountering a shark in this area.
• The change in activity may be due to environmental conditions. There have been reports of unusually high numbers of schooling tuna in the area.

UPDATE on 10 February, 2016:
Services have been restored to 2kms off Scarborough Shark Monitoring Network receiver. The network is now fully operational.

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

Situation:

• Fisheries advise tagged shark detections from Shark Monitoring Network satellite-linked receiver located 2kms off Scarborough are currently offline
• The receiver was damaged by a vessel collision and is out of operation until further notice.
• The remainder of the system, including the inshore Scarborough receiver, is fully operational.

Alert level:
A shark WARNING has been issued for Rottnest Island after a number of reported shark sightings in the last 7 days.

Alert level:
A shark ADVICE has been issued due to a whale carcass being reported at Yallingup Beach, in the City of Busselton.

Alert level:
A shark ADVICE has been issued, due to a whale carcass being reported at Circus Beach near Walpole.

Situation:

• The whale carcass was reported to the Department of Fisheries today by the Department of Parks and Wildlife.
• It is possible the decomposing carcass will act as an attractant that could lead to sharks coming close in to shore along this stretch of coast.
• While it’s not uncommon for sharks to be present off the Western Australian coast throughout the year, people should exercise additional caution.

UPDATE on 4 December, 2015:
Services have been restored to the Leighton Beach Shark Monitoring Network receiver. The network is now fully operational.

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

Situation:

• The Leighton Beach VR4G Shark Monitoring Network receiver is currently offline
• Department of Fisheries is currently working on identifying the problem
• Only the one receiver is currently offline and for an unspecified period of time