Sharks circle as whale carcass washes up on City Beach
City Beach and its surrounds have been closed after great white sharks were spotted offshore on Monday, likely attracted by a whale carcass that washed up on the beach this morning.
The carcass was reported by Surf Life Saving WA about 7.30am and the organisation’s helicopter reported five-metre and four-metre white pointers swimming off the coast near Swanbourne, just south of City Beach, around 10.30am.
The whale carcass is several metres long and Town of Cambridge mayor Gary Mack said they were seeking advice from experts as to its condition before a decision is made on what to do with it.
He said the city had moved to close the beach one kilometre north and south of the beach because of the shark risk, and urged beachgoers to adhere to the closure.
“The most important thing is despite the beach being closed, some people are still tempted to swim and let their dogs swim, but they shouldn’t because there have been a couple of white sharks out there,” he said.
The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development said the carcass may act as an attractant that could lead sharks close to the stretch of coast.
“Although sharks may be present along the Western Australian coast throughout the year, people should exercise additional caution,” it said.
The alerts come 10 days after 63-year-old Greg O’Neill was killed in a suspected white pointer shark attack while swimming close to shore at Sorrento beach, just 12 kilometres north of City Beach.
O’Neill’s death prompted Surf Life Saving WA helicopter patrols to start the season a week earlier than scheduled, to boost safety.
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