# Sharks linger after whale washes up at Perth beach

> A whale carcass at City Beach has drawn sharks to Perth's coast, and experts warn they could stay for weeks even after the carcass is removed.
- Title: Sharks linger after whale washes up at Perth beach · Abc
- Summary: A whale carcass at City Beach has drawn sharks to Perth's coast, and experts warn they could stay for weeks even after the carcass is removed. Sharks drawn…
- Keywords: perth, sharks, city beach, whale carcass, beach closures, shark tagging, cottesloe, western australia, news, politics, linger, whale
- Source: Abc — https://abc.net.au/news/2026-10-03/sharks-set-to-linger-off-perth-beaches-after-whale-removed/107223760
- Published: 2026-10-03T08:09:52+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: perth, sharks, city beach, whale carcass, beach closures, shark tagging, cottesloe, western australia, news, politics
## Whale draws sharks to Perth
A whale carcass washed up at City Beach on Monday, just over a week after a fatal shark attack at Sorrento Beach. Several sharks have been spotted lurking off Perth's most popular beaches since.
## Three beaches closed to swimmers
City Beach, Floreat Beach and Swanbourne Beach have all been closed. The City of Perth Surf Life Saving Club cancelled the Surf Life Saving WA Enduro Championship at City Beach and placed all club-based training on hold until further notice.
## Swimmers pause despite open beaches
Cottesloe's community ocean swimming group PodSquad is taking a break from its daily two-kilometre morning swim. Founder Shane McGurk said members want time to come to terms with the tragedy at Sorrento and the whale at City Beach.
## Shark barrier coming early to Cottesloe
The Town of Cottesloe normally installs a shark barrier at Cottesloe Beach around the end of October. This year it is due to be installed on Wednesday, depending on weather conditions and seaweed movement.
## Calls for expanded shark monitoring
PodSquad called for an expansion of the shark tagging program and investment in AI-powered drones capable of identifying shark species when they come close to shore. Shane McGurk said this would enhance data available to swimmers making decisions about entering the water.

> We just want to know where the sharks are, and when we know where the sharks are we can keep safe.
## Sharks will linger for weeks
Curt Jenner from the Centre for Whale Research in Western Australia said sharks could be attracted to City Beach for weeks despite the carcass removal. Whale blubber breaks down into oil that gets into the sand, and sharks detect small traces of oils or blood on a molecular level.

> Sharks are cued in, on a molecular level, to detect small traces of oils or blood or anything like that and so they'll be tasting that for weeks to come.
## Peak season for sharks and whales
Jenner said sharks are attracted to the south-west coastline between September and December because that is peak southern migration time for humpback whales. Predators also follow other prey such as blue fin tuna into the southern ocean. He advised caution about being in the water during this period.

> If you were going to be cautious about being in the water, this is the time.
## Key takeaway

Sharks drawn to Perth beaches by a whale carcass may linger for weeks despite its removal, prompting beach closures and calls for expanded shark monitoring.