Shark ADVICE for Spoilbank at Port Hedland

20 August 2015

Alert level:
A shark ADVICE has been issued due to a large whale carcass that has washed on to the Spoilbank at Port Hedland.

Situation:

The whale carcass was reported by the Department of Parks and Wildlife.
It is possible the decomposing carcass will continue to 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 while the carcass remains in the vicinity.

What to do:

Take additional caution in the Port Hedland area.
Adhere to beach closures advised by Local Government Rangers.
Keep informed of the latest detection and sighting information by checking 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 response agencies and to the public on the SharkSmart website and the Surf Life Saving WA Twitter feed.

What authorities are doing:
The Department of Fisheries, the Department of Parks and Wildlife and the Town of Port Hedland are monitoring the situation and providing advice to relevant authorities.

For the safety of water users, the Town of Port Hedland has issued a public notice of an exclusion zone in the area where the carcass is stranded. Plans are being prepared to tow the carcass off the Spoilbank and away from Port Hedland.

Back to News & Alerts