Another Perth beach closed as more whale remains found

Topic:Marine BiologyPosted Sun 25 Oct 2026 at 4:18pmSun 25 Oct 2026 at 4:18pmAll beaches in the Sorrento area remain closed due to the threat of shark activity. (ABC News)Whale remains have closed another Perth beach today, as authorities warned of possible shark activity in Sorrento after removing the tail of a carcass found just off the shore.This is the second whale carcass to wash up on the city's beaches this week, and the third in the past month, raising concerns about a further increase in shark activity just as beaches are about to become more crowded ahead of summer.Sorrento Beach was closed about five weeks ago when Perth father Greg O'Neill was attacked and killed by a large great white shark as he was swimming close to the shoreline.Sorrento Beach was closed last month after the fatal shark attack. (ABC News: Andrew O'Connor)He was the third person killed by a shark in Western Australia this year.Greg O'Neill, left, was killed by a shark while swimming at Sorrento Beach. (Supplied)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".The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD), along with staff from other agencies, is monitoring the situation, according to the government's SharkSmart app.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. Council staff remove the whale carcass from South Cottesloe. (ABC News: Lauren Smith)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.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.