The public has been warned to stay away from the water after a whale carcass was spotted off the coast of a popular Perth beach.
Shark advice was issued Monday morning after Surf Life Saving WA reported the whale carcass at about 7.30am.
A patrol boat was seen monitoring a stretch of ocean between South City Beach and Floreat Beach, with a Westpac rescue helicopter also traversing the same stretch of coastline.
A Surf Life Saving WA 4WD patrol car was also seen driving slowly up the beach to monitor the public.
While there were no signs of immediate danger at City Beach or South City Beach, swimmers appeared to be staying out of the water.
The carcass could act as an attractant to sharks and see them come close to shore along the coast surrounding City Beach in the Town of Cambridge, the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development warned.
People should “exercise additional caution”, the department said.
One local said she saw the carcass drift about 300 metres before ending up on the beach.
The SharkSmart website showed multiple in the area following the discovery, including a four-metre white shark at 10.46am just 10 metres offshore spotted by the Westpac helicopter.
Lifesavers spotted a 2.5 metre unidentifiable shark at 9.12am and said it was “circling” 10 metres offshore while a five metre shark was seen at 8.29am also about 10 metres from shore, heading south.
The public has been instructed to adhere to beach closures advised by council rangers, Parks and Wildlife, or Surf Life Saving WA.
Shark activity can be monitored on the SharkSmart website and any shark sightings should be reported to Water Police on 9442 8600.
DPIRD and staff from other agencies are monitoring the situation and providing advice to relevant authorities.
The shark threat comes 10 days after much loved family man Greg O’Neill, 63, was killed by a great white shark while swimming just 15 metres from shore at Sorrento Beach.
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