News & Alerts

Update 3.40pm, 5 July 2018

The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions has extended the Regulation 44 beach closure for Three Bears surfing spot, near Yallingup.

The closure will remain in force until 6pm on Thursday 12 July 2018, when a further review will be conducted.

The closure extends from 600 metres north of the Three Bears Carpark to 300 metres north of Shivery Rock surf break due to the slowly decomposing whale carcass that remains in this area.

The decomposing whale carcass may continue to act as an attractant to sharks.

The closure is in place from the shoreline to two kilometres out to sea. This means beaches and waters in this area cannot be used by divers, surfers and swimmers. This closure does not apply to vessels.

Shark sightings should be reported to Water Police on 9442 8600.

Update 1.40pm, 28 June 2018

The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions has extended the Regulation 44 beach closure related to a decomposing whale carcass south of Three Bears surfing spot, near Yallingup.

The closure will remain in force until 6pm on Thursday 5 July 2018.

The closure extends from 600 metres north of the Three Bears Carpark to 300 metres north of Shivery Rock surf break.

This means beaches and waters up to two kilometres out to sea cannot be used by divers, surfers and swimmers. This closure does not apply to vessels.

The slowly decomposing whale carcass remains in this area and may continue to act as an attractant to sharks.

A further assessment will be carried out by DBCA, before the closure is due to end next Thursday.

Shark sightings should be reported to Water Police on 9442 8600.

Update 10am, 21 June 2018

The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions has extended the Regulation 44 beach closure related to a decomposing whale carcass south of Three Bears surfing spot, near Yallingup.

The closure will remain in force until 6pm on Thursday 28 June 2018.

The closure extends from 600 metres north of the Three Bears Carpark to 300 metres north of Shivery Rock surf break.

This means beaches and waters up to two kilometres out to sea cannot be used by divers, surfers and swimmers. This closure does not apply to vessels.

The slowly decomposing whale carcass remains in this area and may continue to act as an attractant to sharks.

A further assessment will be carried out by DBCA, before the closure is due to end next Thursday.

Shark sightings should be reported to Water Police on 9442 8600.

Update 4.10pm, 14 June 2018

The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions has extended the Regulation 44 beach closure related to a decomposing whale carcass south of Three Bears surfing spot, near Yallingup.

The closure will remain in force until 6pm on Thursday 21 June 2018.

The closure extends from 600 metres north of the Three Bears Carpark to 300 metres north of Shivery Rock surf break.

This means beaches and waters up to two kilometres out to sea cannot be used by divers, surfers and swimmers. This closure does not apply to vessels.

The slowly decomposing whale carcass remains in this area and may continue to act as an attractant to sharks.

A further assessment will be carried out by DBCA, before the closure is due to end next Thursday.

Shark sightings should be reported to Water Police on 9442 8600.

Update 10.45am, 8 June 2018

The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions has extended the Regulation 44 beach closure related to a decomposing whale carcass south of Three Bears surfing spot, near Yallingup.

The closure will remain in force until 6pm on Thursday 14 June 2018.

The closure extends from 600m north of the Three Bears Carpark to 300m north of Shivery Rock surf break.

This means beaches and waters up to two kilometres out to sea cannot be used by divers, surfers and swimmers. This closure does not apply to vessels.

The slowly decomposing whale carcass remains in this area and may continue to act as an attractant to sharks.

A further assessment will be carried out by DBCA, before the closure is due to end next Thursday.

Shark sightings should be reported to Water Police on 9442 8600.

Update 4.30pm, 31 May 2018

The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions has extended the Regulation 44 closure related to the whale carcass south of Three Bears surfing spot, near Yallingup.

The closure will remain in force until Thursday 7 June 2018.

The decision is based on some parts of the whale carcass remaining in place at the original site. 

The closure is from Three Bears surfing spot to 300m north of Shivery Rock surf break. This means beaches and waters up to two kilometres out to sea cannot be used by divers, surfers and swimmers. This closure does not apply to vessels.

A further assessment will be carried out by DBCA, before the closure is due to end next Thursday.

Shark sightings should be reported to Water Police on 9442 8600.

Update 4.15pm, 24 May 2018

The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) has extended the Regulation 44 closure related to the whale carcass south of Three Bears surfing spot, near Yallingup.

The closure will remain in force until Thursday 31 May 2018.

The decision is based on some parts of the whale carcass remaining in place at the original site. 

The closure is from Three Bears surfing spot to 300m north of Shivery Rock surf break. A further assessment will be carried out by DBCA, before the closure is due to end next Thursday.

Shark sightings should be reported to Water Police on 9442 8600.

Update 3:50pm, 17 May 2018

The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) has extended its Regulation 44 closure related to the whale carcass south of Three Bears surfing spot, near Yallingup. The closure will remain in force until Thursday 24 May 2018.

The decision is based on some parts of the whale carcass remaining in place at the original site. 

The closure is from Three Bears surfing spot to 300m north of Shivery Rock surf break. A further assessment will be carried out, before the closure ends next Thursday.

Shark sightings should be reported to Water Police on 9442 8600.

Update 3.30pm, 11 May 2018:

The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) has extended the distance of its Regulation 44 closure related to the whale carcass north of Three Bears surfing spot, near Yallingup, to now include the Sugarloaf Rock area. 

A whale carcass has been reported to have come ashore north of the Three Bears surfing spot and is decomposing, presenting a possible threat of increased shark activity. 

The closure area has been extended to start from 200m north of Sugarloaf Rock carpark to 300m north of Shivery Rock surf break.

The closure will remain in force until Thursday 17 May 2018.

Shark sightings should be reported to Water Police on 9442 8600.

Update 5:00pm, 10 May 2018:

The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) has extended its Regulation 44 closure related to the whale carcass south of Three Bears surfing spot, near Yallingup. The closure will remain in force until Monday 14 May 2018.

The whale carcass has dislodged, and was sighted 1km offshore yesterday. However, an inspection of the original site suggests some parts of the whale carcass remain and several large sharks have been reported in the area.

The closure is from Three Bears surfing spot to 300m north of Shivery Rock surf break. A further assessment will be carried out, before the closure ends next Monday.

Shark sightings should be reported to Water Police on 9442 8600.

Update 5:30pm, 1 May 2018:

The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) has now issued a Regulation 44 closure related to the whale carcass south of Three Bears surfing spot, near Yallingup.

As the decomposing carcass cannot be removed, a closure has been issued 2.5km either side of the carcass location. The closure area is from Three Bears surfing spot to 300m north of Shivery Rock surf break.

This means beaches and waters up to two kilometres out to sea cannot be used by divers, surfers and swimmers. This closure does not apply to vessels.

The area will be closed until at least 6pm on Thursday 10 May. The closure will be reviewed at that time.

DBCA officers will continue to monitor the situation. 

Alert issued on 30 April:

Alert level:
A shark ADVICE has been issued due to a whale carcass being reported, approximately one to two kilometres south of Three Bears surfing spot, near Yallingup.

Situation:

• The whale carcass was reported by the Surf Life Saving WA helicopter patrol in the South West. 
• 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 until the whale carcass is removed. 

What to do:

• Take additional caution in the Three Bears / Yallingup area.
• Adhere to beach closures advised by Local Government Rangers or Surf Life Saving WA.
• 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: 
Fisheries officers, along with staff from other agencies are monitoring the situation and providing advice to relevant authorities. The report will be investigated and this advice will be updated, once further information is available.

Extra information: 
Keep informed of the latest detection and sighting information 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.