Arabic version: قد تبقى أسماك القرش قبالة شواطئ بيرث بعد إزالة الحوت

According to ABC News, sharks could remain attracted to waters off Perth for weeks despite the removal of a whale carcass from City Beach, prompting experienced swimmers to pause ocean activities.

Several sharks have been spotted near popular beaches in recent days after the whale washed ashore at City Beach on Monday. City Beach, Floreat Beach and Swanbourne Beach have been closed, while the City of Perth Surf Life Saving Club cancelled the Surf Life Saving WA Enduro Championship and suspended club-based training until further notice.

Cottesloe ocean swimming group PodSquad has paused its daily two-kilometre morning swim, although Cottesloe beaches are currently open. Founder Shane McGurk said some swimmers wanted to return to the water quickly, while others needed time following the Sorrento tragedy and the City Beach whale incident.

The Town of Cottesloe is scheduled to install its shark barrier at Cottesloe Beach early, on Wednesday, depending on weather and seaweed movement. PodSquad has called for a broader shark-tagging program and investment in AI-powered drones that can identify shark species close to shore.

Curt Jenner of the Centre for Whale Research in Western Australia said whale blubber can quickly break down into oil that enters the sand. He said sharks can detect small traces of oils or blood and may continue responding to those traces for weeks. He also noted that September to December is the peak period for humpback whale migration along the south-west coastline, while sharks also follow prey including blue fin tuna into the southern ocean.