News & Alerts

Update on 7 January at 5pm

Fisheries Officers have concluded on-water patrols in the Esperance area.

Beaches from West Beach to Eleven Mile Beach, including Twilight Beach, are now closed until further notice.

Switch on your Sea Sense and stay informed of shark activity information by checking the SharkSmart website, download the SharkSmart WA app or follow Surf Life Saving WA Twitter.

If you see a shark, report it to Water Police on 9442 8600.

Update on 7 January at 8am

Fisheries Officers have resumed patrols in the Esperance area this morning, and will support the WA Water Police on-water operations near Cull Island.

The Department of Transport has set up a one nautical mile navigation exclusion zone around the search area which will be enforced by support vessels throughout the day. 

Shark warning signs, installed by the Shire of Esperance, along the beaches from West Beach to Twilight Beach and at both town boat ramps, remain in place to notify the public of recent shark activity.

Switch on your Sea Sense and stay informed of shark activity information by checking the SharkSmart website, download the SharkSmart WA app or follow Surf Life Saving WA Twitter.

If you see a shark, report it to Water Police on 9442 8600.

Update on 6 January at 4:45pm

Officers from the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development have concluded on-water patrols for today. 

The patrols will recommence tomorrow morning in the waters off the Esperance coast, near Cull Island, with support of other vessels from the WA Water Police and volunteer marine rescue services. 

Fisheries Officers, local Department of Transport Officers and Esperance Shire Rangers will continue attending local boat ramps and nearby beaches to advise water users and vessel operators to take extra caution in the area and to report any shark sightings to Water Police on 9442 8600.

Shark warning signs, installed by the Shire of Esperance, along the beaches from West Beach to Twilight Beach and at both town boat ramps, remain in place to notify the public of recent shark activity.

Switch on your Sea Sense and stay informed of shark activity information by checking the SharkSmart website, download the SharkSmart WA app or follow Surf Life Saving WA Twitter.

If you see a shark, report it to Water Police on 9442 8600.

Update on 6 January at 6:20am

A Fisheries patrol vessel crew from the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development is on the water off the Esperance coast this morning, urging water users, in the area of yesterday’s incident near Cull Island, to take extra caution and report any shark sightings to Water Police on 9442 8600.

Fisheries Officers and local Department of Transport Officers along with Esperance Shire rangers will also be patrolling between the local boat ramps and at nearby beaches to advise water users and vessel operators to take additional care. 

We’ve been advised the Shire of Esperance has installed shark warning signs along the closest beaches to the incident - from West Beach to Twilight Beach. The signs notify the public of recent shark activity and warn beach goers. 

Stay informed by checking for shark activity on the SharkSmart website, SharkSmart WA app or Surf Life Saving WA’s Twitter feed - twitter.com/SLSWA.

Update on 5 January at 7:50pm

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development continues to work with local authorities to support the responses.

On Monday 6 January, Fisheries officers will be conducting on water patrols at Cull Island and the surrounding area.

Rangers from the Shire of Esperance continue to advise water users of recent shark activity. Warning signs have been put in place along the coast and will also be installed at boat launching locations closest to the offshore island where the incident occurred. 

Additional caution is recommended in the Cull Island area by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development.

Stay informed of shark activity information by checking the SharkSmart website, download the SharkSmart WA app or follow Surf Life Saving WA Twitter.

If you see a shark, report it to Water Police on 9442 8600.

Alert issued on 5 January

Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development are currently involved in assisting WA Police with what's understood to be a fatal shark bite incident near Cull Island in the Shire of Esperance.

Situation:

• Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development received a report of a possible shark bite incident at approximately 1:00pm on Sunday 5 January 2020.
• A man is reported to have been fatally injured after being bitten by a white shark.

What to do:

• Take additional caution in the Cull Island area, near Esperance.
• Use your Sea Sense and stay informed by checking for shark activity on the SharkSmart website, SharkSmart WA app 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, SharkSmart WA app and Surf Life Saving WA Twitter feed. 

What authorities are doing: 

• Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development is working with local authorities to coordinate responses.
• Fisheries officers will be conducting patrols in the area.

Extra information: 

Switch on your Sea Sense and stay informed of shark activity information by checking the SharkSmart website – www.sharksmart.com.au/shark-activity, download the SharkSmart WA app or follow Surf Life Saving WA Twitter – twitter.com/SLSWA. Check www.sharksmart.com.au/news  for current alerts and warnings.