Shark activity map
Switch on your Sea Sense.
Read more
Latest shark advice and warnings.
Read More
News & Alerts
Shark ADVICE for West Beach, Esperance
26 October 2018Update on 26 October at 12.56pm
Fisheries officers from the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development are continuing to monitor a bronze whaler shark, which has been detected numerous times by the West Beach Shark Monitoring Network receiver.
This shark has been detected more than 270 times over the period 25 September to 26 October 2018.
The Shire of Esperance has installed signage at West Beach requesting that water-users use caution.
It is not uncommon for sharks to be off the WA coast at any time of year and this detection period at West Beach is within the spectrum of behaviour previously observed for bronze whaler sharks at other receiver locations.
It is possible that the frequency and duration of the recent detections may increase the likelihood of encountering a shark in this area.
If you see a shark, report it to Water Police on 9442 8600
Update on 10 October at 11am
The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development reminds the Esperance community that additional caution is still required because of the regular detections of a bronze whaler shark by the West Beach Shark Monitoring Network receiver this week.
This shark has been detected more than 190 times over the period 25 September to 9 October 2018.
The Shire of Esperance has installed signage at West Beach requesting that water-users use caution.
It is not uncommon for sharks to be off the WA coast at any time of year and this detection period at West Beach is within the spectrum of behaviour that has been previously observed for bronze whaler sharks at other receiver locations.
It is possible that the frequency and duration of the recent detections may increase the likelihood of encountering a shark in this area.
Fisheries officers from the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development are monitoring the situation.
If you see a shark, report it to Water Police on 9442 8600
Alert issued on 5 October, 2018
Alert level:
A shark ADVICE has been issued due to an increased number of detections at West Beach, Esperance.
Situation:
- A bronze whaler shark has been detected more than 110 times, by the Shark Monitoring Network receiver off West Beach, over the period 25 September to 5 October 2018.
- The frequency and duration of the detections has been higher than the usual pattern of a few days.
- This detection period at West Beach is within the spectrum of behaviour that has been previously observed for this species at other receiver locations.
- It is possible that the frequency and duration of the detections may be due to a possible change in environmental conditions, for example fish aggregations at or near the site.
- It is possible that the frequency and duration of the recent detections may increase the likelihood of encountering a shark in this area.
What to do:
- Obey beach closures advised by Local Government rangers or Surf Life Saving WA.
- Take extra caution in the West Beach area.
- 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 Surf Life Saving WA Twitter feed.
What authorities are doing:
Fisheries officers from the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development are monitoring the situation.
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.