Shark activity map
Switch on your Sea Sense.
Read more
Latest shark advice and warnings.
Read More
Staying Safe
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.
Shark Warning System
26 May 2020Shark Warning Systems and Surf Life Saving WA (SLSWA) Surf Alert Modules are towers which use lights, sirens and audio broadcasts to notify beach users of shark activity within the area.
Towers with adjacent Shark Monitoring Network receivers are automatically triggered when a tagged shark is detected, and will operate for at least one hour after the detection. Tower automation operates between 5 am to 7 pm from October to April and then between 6 am to 6 pm for the remainder of the year.
Towers may be manually activated for reported shark sightings by the relevant land manager, for example council rangers or SLSWA, using their local activation guidelines.
Once activated, a tower siren emits a warning tone, followed by a voice message informing of nearby shark activity. Red or orange flashing lights on the towers simultaneously provide a visual warning to beach users.
Beach users should remain out of the water while the tower is activated. They can check the shark activity map, SharkSmart WA app, or @SLSWA on X (formerly Twitter) for details of the reported shark sighting or tagged shark detection.
Shark Warning Systems are currently installed in the following areas:
- Bunker Bay within the City of Busselton.
- West Beach, Twilight Beach and Kelp Beds Beach within the Shire of Esperance.
- North Point, South Point, Lefthanders Surfing Spot, Lefthanders Surfing Spot Car Park, Gas Bay and Surfers Point within the Shire of Augusta Margaret River.
- Cove Surf Break and North Cottesloe within the Town of Cottesloe.
- Port Beach within the City of Fremantle.
- Ocean Reef, Mullaloo North, Mullaloo South and Sorrento Beach within the City of Joondalup.
Image: Mullaloo North Shark Warning System
SLSWA Surf Alert Modules
SLSWA Surf Alert Modules (SAM) are ‘virtual’ lifesavers which are available to assist in an emergency. Beach users can use an intercom connecting them to SLSWA SurfCom to request emergency assistance. SAM use a digital display board to provide important beach safety information about potential beach hazards, in addition to lights, sirens and audio broadcasts.
SAM are currently installed in the following areas:
- Wylie Head, Twilight Beach and Picnic Cove within the Shire of Esperance.
- Leighton Beach within the City of Fremantle.
- Falcon Bay and Pyramids Beach within the City of Mandurah.
- Claytons Beach within the Shire of Wanneroo.
Image: Twilight Beach SLSWA Surf Alert Module
The locations of Shark Warning Systems and SLSWA Surf Alert Modules can be viewed on the shark activity map or SharkSmart WA app. Use the map filter and select the beach safety icon 'Shark Warning Systems'.