Whale remains close Sorrento Beach amid shark concerns

Sorrento Beach in Perth has been closed after authorities discovered more whale remains, sparking concerns about increased shark activity in the area. The closure comes as beaches are about to become more crowded ahead of summer.

All beaches in the Sorrento area remain closed due to the threat of shark activity. The City of Joondalup removed the whale remains from Sorrento Beach a few hours after surf lifesavers reported seeing them, but said the beaches in the area remained closed as "residue from where the whale carcass was beached may attract sharks to the area".

This is the second whale carcass to wash up on the city's beaches this week, and the third in the past month. The closures follow a fatal shark attack at Sorrento Beach about five weeks ago, in which Perth father Greg O'Neill was killed by a large great white shark while swimming close to the shoreline.

"He was the third person killed by a shark in Western Australia this year," a report stated.

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, along with staff from other agencies, is monitoring the situation. The state government is expanding its shark-tagging program and may use AI-powered drones as part of a suite of measures aimed at keeping beachgoers safe.

In recent weeks, beach closures have become more frequent. On Thursday, a 3-metre, significantly decomposed partial whale carcass washed up at South Cottesloe beach, triggering the closure of all beaches in the area. The remains were buried at the Red Hill Waste Management Facility.

On September 27, a 13-metre, 72-tonne humpback whale carcass washed up on South City Beach, requiring an excavator to remove it.