Shocking new report reveals 'avoidable' shark dangers at Aussie beach: Are you at risk?
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Shark activity along Australia’s coastline has always been a topic of concern, but recent reports have highlighted growing fears for beachgoers.
What started as isolated incidents is now raising alarms, with experts warning that a potentially dangerous situation could be just around the corner.
A local community is calling for action, fearing that a simple oversight could lead to an avoidable disaster.
A growing number of beachgoers in Perth were calling for shark warning signs to be placed at the popular Mullaloo to Hillarys stretch of coastline due to increased tiger shark activity.
Locals had spotted a particularly frequent tiger shark dubbed ‘Trevor’ and drone footage had shown numerous sharks approaching swimmers and pets in the water.
Despite no attacks having occurred in the area, videographer Curtis Ramsay voiced concerns that an accident was possible if beachgoers were unaware of the shark presence.
‘I’ve never been to a beach in WA that has this many sharks in one spot,’ Curtis said.
‘Especially in a metro area. It’s an exception to the norm.’
Curtis advocated for the installation of warning signs at Mullaloo and Hillarys beaches, similar to those seen at Wylie Bay and Kelps Bed near Esperance.
He noted that although he visited other Perth beaches with fewer sharks, those locations displayed more signage.
During the summer months, Curtis often spotted ‘several sharks almost every day for a couple of weeks’ at Mullaloo and Hillarys.
While the SharkSmart app and website were available, Curtis argued there was a lack of proper signage at the beaches for those who didn’t have access to the technology.
‘There’s no real oversight, it’s the only way I can really put it,’ he said.
‘No one seems to pay any attention. I’m sure they have some kind of awareness (of the number of sharks) but they just choose not to pay attention.’
While tiger sharks had been involved in 10 encounters with swimmers over the last 60 years in WA, the most recent fatal attack was in 1993 in Broome, according to the Australian Shark Incident Database.
Curtis emphasized the importance of awareness but also encouraged beachgoers to still enjoy the water.
‘I’m afraid [there] will be an accident that will impact the person or the animal that will [be bitten], as well as the shark. It’s an avoidable situation that only takes a couple of minor tweaks to people’s behaviour and we can avoid an incident all together,’ he said.
He believed that minor adjustments, like avoiding splashing or controlling movements, could significantly reduce the risks.
Curtis shared a video showing a dog owner tossing a ball near a tiger shark in the water, highlighting the potential danger of unaware behaviour.
‘Do you think the woman in this clip would still play fetch with her dogs if she knew what was in front of her?’ he wrote online.
Watch the video below.
Source: Instagram/curtis_n_kora
The City of Joondalup referred questions regarding warning signs to WA’s Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD), who maintained that the decision was up to the local council.
A DPIRD spokesperson pointed to the state’s comprehensive shark hazard mitigation strategy, which included aerial patrols, shark tagging, and the SharkSmart WA app, but did not specify signage.
In December, nearly 1800 Beach Emergency Number (BEN) signs were installed across WA’s beaches.
These signs had a unique code for emergency services to pinpoint exact locations.
The idea for the BEN signs came from Rick Gerring, whose brother Ben tragically died in a shark attack in 2016.
‘Shark hazard mitigation in WA is a shared responsibility,’ the DPIRD spokesperson said.
‘Water users are encouraged to download the SharkSmart WA app, which provides near real-time information on shark activity, including current alerts and warnings to WA water users.’
The spokesperson further explained the integrated Shark Notification System, relying on reports of shark sightings from the public or surf lifesavers, and tagged shark detections from the Shark Monitoring Network.
‘The community can play an important role by reporting shark sightings to Water Police on 9442 8600 or by using the quick call link within the SharkSmart WA app,’ they said.
With so much at stake, what do you think—should warning signs be a priority, or are the current measures enough? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
What started as isolated incidents is now raising alarms, with experts warning that a potentially dangerous situation could be just around the corner.
A local community is calling for action, fearing that a simple oversight could lead to an avoidable disaster.
A growing number of beachgoers in Perth were calling for shark warning signs to be placed at the popular Mullaloo to Hillarys stretch of coastline due to increased tiger shark activity.
Locals had spotted a particularly frequent tiger shark dubbed ‘Trevor’ and drone footage had shown numerous sharks approaching swimmers and pets in the water.
Despite no attacks having occurred in the area, videographer Curtis Ramsay voiced concerns that an accident was possible if beachgoers were unaware of the shark presence.
Shark sightings spark calls for warning signs at Perth beaches. Image source: Instagram/curtis_n_kora
‘I’ve never been to a beach in WA that has this many sharks in one spot,’ Curtis said.
‘Especially in a metro area. It’s an exception to the norm.’
Curtis advocated for the installation of warning signs at Mullaloo and Hillarys beaches, similar to those seen at Wylie Bay and Kelps Bed near Esperance.
He noted that although he visited other Perth beaches with fewer sharks, those locations displayed more signage.
During the summer months, Curtis often spotted ‘several sharks almost every day for a couple of weeks’ at Mullaloo and Hillarys.
While the SharkSmart app and website were available, Curtis argued there was a lack of proper signage at the beaches for those who didn’t have access to the technology.
‘There’s no real oversight, it’s the only way I can really put it,’ he said.
‘No one seems to pay any attention. I’m sure they have some kind of awareness (of the number of sharks) but they just choose not to pay attention.’
While tiger sharks had been involved in 10 encounters with swimmers over the last 60 years in WA, the most recent fatal attack was in 1993 in Broome, according to the Australian Shark Incident Database.
Curtis emphasized the importance of awareness but also encouraged beachgoers to still enjoy the water.
‘I’m afraid [there] will be an accident that will impact the person or the animal that will [be bitten], as well as the shark. It’s an avoidable situation that only takes a couple of minor tweaks to people’s behaviour and we can avoid an incident all together,’ he said.
He believed that minor adjustments, like avoiding splashing or controlling movements, could significantly reduce the risks.
Curtis shared a video showing a dog owner tossing a ball near a tiger shark in the water, highlighting the potential danger of unaware behaviour.
‘Do you think the woman in this clip would still play fetch with her dogs if she knew what was in front of her?’ he wrote online.
Watch the video below.
Source: Instagram/curtis_n_kora
The City of Joondalup referred questions regarding warning signs to WA’s Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD), who maintained that the decision was up to the local council.
A DPIRD spokesperson pointed to the state’s comprehensive shark hazard mitigation strategy, which included aerial patrols, shark tagging, and the SharkSmart WA app, but did not specify signage.
In December, nearly 1800 Beach Emergency Number (BEN) signs were installed across WA’s beaches.
These signs had a unique code for emergency services to pinpoint exact locations.
The idea for the BEN signs came from Rick Gerring, whose brother Ben tragically died in a shark attack in 2016.
‘Shark hazard mitigation in WA is a shared responsibility,’ the DPIRD spokesperson said.
‘Water users are encouraged to download the SharkSmart WA app, which provides near real-time information on shark activity, including current alerts and warnings to WA water users.’
The spokesperson further explained the integrated Shark Notification System, relying on reports of shark sightings from the public or surf lifesavers, and tagged shark detections from the Shark Monitoring Network.
‘The community can play an important role by reporting shark sightings to Water Police on 9442 8600 or by using the quick call link within the SharkSmart WA app,’ they said.
With so much at stake, what do you think—should warning signs be a priority, or are the current measures enough? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
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