TOURISTS have been warned to stay out of the water at holiday beaches after sharks were seen circling where a massive whale carcass washed ashore.
Several popular swimming spots were closed to beach bums as shark surveillance drones and jet skis are deployed to monitor the danger.
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The large whale carcass was found washed ashore was in a heavy state of decomposition Credit: SLSNSW
Beaches at Sydney’s Royal National Park were close after a possible shark risk Credit: 9News
Four beaches were shut to swimmers Credit: AP
Surfers, swimmers, divers and spearfishers were urged to stay away from four beaches along Sydney’s Royal National Park on Saturday following the discovery of the whale carcass.
Surf lifesavers noticed the rotting body of the massive whale on a rocky ledge early in the morning and immediately raised the alarm.
After taking to the skies, authorities tracked an increased amount of shark activity in the area.
Garie, Wattamolla, Era and Burning Palms beaches were shut down as a result of the shark activity.
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Surf Life Saving NSW CEO Stephen Pearce said: “Our warning is, ‘Don’t go in the water’.”
“We can’t prevent people from going in the water, but knowing just how many sharks are there and the reports of larger white and bull sharks in the water, they’re not the fish you want to be swimming in the same water with,” he said.
They said while the species of whale was unclear, it was obvious it had been decaying out at sea for a while.
Pearce said the organisation will now work with the National Parks and Wildlife Service to keep the beaches shut, likely for at least 24 hours.
“National Parks will have to make arrangements to try and come in and determine what they’re going to do with the carcass.
“I think they’re obviously going to have to remove it.”
Pearce said SLSNSW chose to issue an alert because there would be more people visiting the beaches this weekend because of an Australian bank holiday.
It comes after beachgoers were subjected to multiple horror shark attacks in the first few months of the year along the Australian eastern coast.
Emergency services had been on high alert at Sydney beaches Credit: Jattvibe
Nico was attacked by a suspected bull shark while swimming in Sydney Harbour Credit: Facebook
Four people were attacked in just 48 hours including a 39-year-old surfer who “sustained a wound to his chest” after his board was bitten.
Two boys, 11 and 12, were also victims of shark attacks.
Nico Antic, 12, was swimming with friends near Shark Beach at Nielsen Park on January 18 when he was attacked by a suspected bull shark.
He died almost a week later.
