Whale carcass discovery near Port Gregory sparks shark warning

Fisheries officers are warning swimmers, surfers and divers to beware of sharks after a dead whale was found on the beach about I km north of Port Gregory boat ramp this morning.

Fisheries officers from the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development are monitoring the situation as the Shire of Northampton prepares to remove the carcass as soon as possible.

A department spokesperson said it was possible the carcass would attract sharks.

“While it’s not uncommon for sharks to be present off the Western Australian coast throughout the year, people should exercise additional caution until the whale carcass is removed,” she said.

People were advised to take additional caution in the area 1km north of the boat ramp and observe beach closures advised by Northampton Shire rangers.

“If you see a shark, report it to Water Police on 9442 8600,” she said.

“All shark sighting information reported to Water Police is provided to response agencies and to the public on the SharkSmart website and the Surf Life Saving WA Twitter feed.”

The latest detection and sighting information is available from the SharkSmart website or Surf Life Saving WA’s Twitter feed.