A number of beaches in Halls Head, Mandurah, have been closed to the public after a whale carcass washed ashore near Admiralty Crescent on Monday morning.
The City of Mandurah made the move because of the increased risk of shark activity the carcass could cause, posing an additional threat to beachgoers.
Local beaches remain closed from the Mary Street carpark, location MH087 in the beach number system, to the carpark opposite 55, Halls Head Parade, location MH112.
Staff at the scene on Monday morning said they were waiting for equipment to arrive so the carcass could be removed.
They said they expected to have the carcass off the beach sometime on Monday or Tuesday, however it would depend on the gear available and the state of decomposition of the carcass.
They said it wasn’t clear when the beach would be reopened.
The carcass was reported floating near the beach on Sunday by members of the public.
A Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) identified the carcass as an adult humpback whale.
What to do:
- Take additional caution in the Halls Head area and adjacent beaches.
- Adhere to beach closures advised by Local Government Rangers or Surf Life Saving WA.
- Keep informed of the latest detection and sighting information by checking the SharkSmart website or Surf Life Saving WA’s Twitter feed.
If you see a shark, report it to Water Police on 9442 8600. 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.
Nathan Hondros
Senior Journalist for the Mandurah Mail, Australian Community Media, and Fairfax Media.
Senior Journalist for the Mandurah Mail, Australian Community Media, and Fairfax Media.
Marta Pascual Juanola
Photojournalist from Barcelona, currently based in WA. Five languages speaker: English - Català - Español - Norsk - العربية.
Photojournalist from Barcelona, currently based in WA. Five languages speaker: English - Català - Español - Norsk - العربية.
