Additional caution urged over whale carcass near Albany

05 August 2014

The Department of Fisheries is advising water users in the vicinity of Limestone Head, in Albany’s King George Sound, to exercise additional caution, following the discovery of a small (three metre) juvenile whale carcass.

It is possible 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 is not uncommon for sharks to be present off the Western Australian coast throughout the year, people should exercise additional caution and report any shark sightings to Water Police on 9442 8600.

Advice is that water users should:

Take additional caution near Limestone Head.
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.

The carcass was found in one of the bays close to Limestone Head in about two metres of water close to the shore.

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