Additional caution urged over whale carcass near Bunbury

06 November 2014

The Department of Fisheries is advising water users between Leschenault Inlet cut and Buffalo Beach to exercise additional caution after a report of a shark sighting in the vicinity of a whale carcass, which washed ashore near Bunbury’s Belvidere Beach earlier in the week.

It is possible that the whale carcass may 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 until the whale carcass is removed and report any shark sightings to Water Police on 9442 8600.

Advice is that water users should:

Take additional caution between Leschenault Inlet cut and Buffalo Beach.
Keep informed of the latest detection and sighting information by checking the Surf Life Saving Twitter – twitter.com/SLSWA, or on their website – www.surflifesavingwa.com.au.
Report any shark sightings to Water Police on 9442 8600.
Adhere to any beach closures advised by your Local Government Rangers or Surf Life Saving WA.

Shark sighting information reported to Water Police is provided to response agencies and to the public on the Surf Life Saving twitter and website.

This information is also available via a link on the Department of Fisheries website shark pages at www.fish.wa.gov.au/shark.

General information on sharks is also available online at www.sharksmart.com.au.

Officers from the Department of Parks and Wildlife are monitoring the carcass and considering options for removal. Members of the public are asked to keep away from the beach due to health and safety risks.

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