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Shark ADVICE for Point Samson in the City of Karratha
14 September 2019Update on 14 September at 5:00pm
Fisheries Officers from Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development have inspected the whale carcass at Point Samson today and have observed the carcass has suffered heavy predation from sharks.
The parts of the carcass that were below the waterline are mostly gone, however some parts of the whale remain on the shore.
It is possible the residues of the whale may continue to act as a shark attractant and the beach is to remain closed until further notice.
Beach access is permitted within the closure area, but swimming or entering the water is prohibited.
If you see a shark, report it to Water Police on 9442 8600.
Alert issued on 13 September at 5:45pm
Alert level:
A shark ADVICE has been issued due to a whale carcass being reported near Point Samson in the City of Karratha.
Situation:
- The whale carcass was reported by a wildlife officer of the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions at 5.20pm this afternoon.
- The carcass has been described as 9 metres in length and is in an area between the old jetty and Honeymoon Bay.
- 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 remains in this area.
- The City of Karratha has closed the beach until further notice.
What to do:
- Take additional caution in the Point Samson area.
- Adhere to beach closures advised by Local Government Rangers, Parks and Wildlife Service officers or Surf Life Saving WA.
- 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.
What authorities are doing:
Officers from the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions are attending the area.
Rangers from the City of Karratha are also attending to assess the situation.
Fisheries officers are providing advice to the relevant authorities and will continue to monitor the situation in coming days.
Extra information:
Bring your Sea Sense to the beach. Stay informed 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.
Check www.sharksmart.com.au/news for current alerts and warnings.