Shark activity map
Switch on your Sea Sense.
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Latest shark advice and warnings.
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The Western Australian Government is committed to keeping the community as safe as possible when using our oceans. There is no one simple solution, shark encounters are rare and the following shark safety initiatives, operational responses and shark safety tips, allow the community to keep informed and help reduce the risk of a shark encounter.
While shark encounters in WA are rare, every West Australian can bring something to the beach, to help stay safe. It’s our Sea Sense.
Here are some common sense tips to help reduce your risk of a shark encounter.
The SharkSmart WA app combines shark activity information, beach safety features such as Surf Life Saving WA patrolled beaches and weather forecast, to help you plan your trip to the beach.
The app will help you switch on your Sea Sense by providing near real-time information of shark activity including current alerts and warnings. Select your favourite coastal locations and use notifications to receive relevant updates as they happen.
The Western Australian Government is offering a rebate of $200 to Western Australian residents that purchase a scientifically-proven and approved personal shark deterrent device.
The world-first subsidy launched in May, 2017, was originally for 1,000 devices, but given the popularity of the program, funding has been extended.
The Beach Emergency Numbers (BEN) system – named in honour of fatal shark bite victim Ben Gerring – is a coding system that aims to improve emergency response times by installing signs with unique codes at public beach access points.
These signs provide specific location information, vital when emergency services are deployed in the event of a shark sighting, incident or other beach emergencies.
A beach enclosure is a protected swimming area featuring a physical barrier to reduce the risk of a shark encounter. The barrier aims to prevent sharks from entering an enclosed area and covers the full water column (anchored to the seabed and connected to floats at the surface)
The Western Australian Government has developed a world first, integrated shark notification and response system which is a partnership between the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD), Water Police and Surf Life Saving WA (SLSWA).
This system provides near ‘real-time’ information on shark sightings and detections to response agencies and the public, to assist people in making informed decisions about their water use.
The Western Australian Government will provide Surf Life Saving WA (SLSWA) with $4 million for the delivery of shark mitigation strategies over 2024/25. Funding is used for aerial patrols provided by SLSWA’s Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter, beach patrols, coordination of service and emergency responses via SurfCom communications centre and a jetski response team.
Surf lifesavers are watching from the beaches, on the water and in the air and public officers are ready to respond to sightings. Swimming between the flags at patrolled beaches means that if a shark is sighted, the information will be communicated quickly to the front line responders and the beach can be closed by lifesavers.
Shark Warning Systems are towers which use lights, sirens and audio broadcasts to notify beach users of shark activity within the vicinity of the area.
Effective whale carcass management requires the collaboration of relevant government departments and land managers.
The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) is responsible for the management of whales in Western Australia. As whale carcasses are a known shark attractant, the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) also has a role in their management.
Government agencies and local land managers are working together to make our beaches safer. Together we have developed strong operational responses to shark incidents and we can all play a part to be prepared in the event of an emergency.
Keep informed of the latest reported sighting and tagged shark detection information by:
You can also download the Beachsafe app to your mobile device to receive up to date information for all 3,494 WA beaches including patrol info (where applicable), hazards, warnings, weather information, shark sightings, rescue stats, beach information and more.
Listen to authorities at your beach on arrival. WA Water Police, Surf Lifesavers or Local Government Rangers may direct you if your beach is closed.
Play your part by reporting shark sightings to Water Police on 9442 8600.
The Western Australian Government has implemented a number of initiatives to help keep people safe when at the beach.
This includes:
It is crucial that beachgoers take personal responsibility by finding out the latest information about the beach they plan to visit and obeying any directions from authorities when they are at the beach.
Before heading to the beach download the SharkSmart WA app or check the Shark Activity map to see the latest reported sightings and tagged shark detections at your local beach.
'SMART' is an acronym for Shark-Management-Alert-in-Real-time. A SMART drumline is designed to be non-lethal and to send an alert when an animal has been captured on the line.
The Western Australian Government conducted a two-year scientific trial of non-lethal SMART drumlines in the Gracetown area.
For further information visit SMART drumline trial
Increased media attention, surveillance and more people using the water have contributed to the impression that shark numbers have risen.
Researchers from the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development try to estimate shark numbers based on fishing data.
In addition to this, researchers have completed a review of white shark population numbers in Western Australia. The study attempted to reconstruct the levels of annual catch of white sharks since 1938, and to combine this data with life-history information to develop a series of population trajectories. These scenarios varied markedly and the report has identified the need for further investigation to reduce the level of uncertainty and narrowing the range of possible scenarios.
CSIRO released a research report in February 2018 which found that there was no evidence of an increase in the southern-western white shark population.
Read more about white shark movement.
Most of the 100 or more shark species in WA are capable of injuring humans, however an overwhelming majority of them are not aggressive under most circumstances. White, bull and tiger sharks are considered the most significant threat.
Larger sharks tend to be very mobile and can travel large distances in search of prey. As there are no obstacles to them coming close to shore, there is always a small chance that people may encounter sharks.
The Shark Monitoring Network (SMN) was implemented to collect information about white shark movements off our coast. The entire project was funded by the Western Australian Government, and including the pilot phase extended over seven years, at a cost $3 million dollars.
The results, released in April 2016, show that white sharks can exhibit rapid, extensive movements around the Western Australian coast with some seasonality in their abundance off the metropolitan coast. As their movements are mostly uncoordinated, this limits general predictions of when human encounters with this species could be likely.
For further information view Fisheries Research Report No. 273, 2016.
Helpful Q&A’s on the report summarise some of the key findings.
A 'rogue' shark is an unsubstantiated theory.
The ‘rogue’ shark theory is frequently discussed, particularly in the media, as a result of movies like Jaws and similar stories.
No, there is a State ban on shark tourism ventures which involve the use of a safety cage for protecting swimmers or divers from sharks. Legislative changes under the Fisheries Resource Management Regulations (R.128OA) have been made to help reduce the risk of shark incidents by banning activities that may change the behaviour of sharks. A ban on using mammal and bird offal and blood for berley for the purposes of attracting sharks has also been put in place under the Fisheries Resource Management Regulations.
The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) has protocols and procedures to prepare for, and respond to, serious threat incidents. This includes a network of regionally placed assets which can assist in monitoring an area after a shark bite incident.
A range of measures, including those listed below, are available in the event of an incident to ensure public safety:
In the event of a serious or fatal shark attack, the Deputy Director General, Sustainability and Biosecurity, DPIRD may issue an order to capture a shark in order to relocate or take the animal, where there is a risk to public safety.
Publicly available guidelines outline when this may occur.
You should report shark sightings to Water Police on 9442 8600.
Report all shark sightings as soon as possible to ensure effective response procedures. Include:
Download the SharkSmart WA app. The app provides useful location information to help you make your shark sighting report.
There is no proof that any time of the day, or weather conditions (like cloudy days) make it more likely you’ll see a shark.