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Entry 443Filed under Breeding

Cottesloe Beach Closed After Bronze Whaler Was Found Inside Shark Enclosure

Cottesloe Beach closed after a bronze whaler was spotted inside its shark enclosure. A later $200 speargun-possession infringement did not establish who shot the shark.
2-minute read By Animalso Team
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Cottesloe Beach was closed on 8 January 2025 after a 1.5-metre bronze whaler was seen inside the shark enclosure. Authorities investigated reports that the shark had been shot with a speargun. A later report said a man received a $200 infringement for possessing a speargun on land next to the closed waters; it did not establish that he shot the shark.

What happened at Cottesloe Beach

At about 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday, 8 January 2025, swimmers were told to leave the water after a 1.5-metre bronze whaler was spotted roughly 60 metres offshore, inside the shark enclosure. ABC News reported that the beach would remain closed for the rest of the day while the shark was inside.

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The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) was investigating reports that the shark had been shot and injured with a speargun. The shooting was an allegation under investigation, not a confirmed account of who had injured the shark.

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What the $200 infringement covered

PerthNow reported on 6 February 2025 that a 36-year-old man from Wongan Hills received a $200 infringement for possessing a speargun on land adjacent to the closed waters. The report also described the investigation into claims that the shark had been shot.

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The reported infringement was for possession. It does not establish that the man shot the shark, and it should not be described as a conviction for shooting or injuring it.

What the Cottesloe fishing rules say

DPIRD’s brochure for the Cottesloe Reef Fish Habitat Protection Area (FHPA) says spearfishing is prohibited throughout the protected area, including the use of spear guns, gidgees, Hawaiian slings or similar devices. The brochure also prohibits fishing for sharks or rays in the FHPA.

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The Town of Cottesloe’s June 2023 council minutes reproduce local-law provisions that address fishing for sharks, using blood to attract marine life, cleaning fish or leaving offal and bait, and using devices such as spearguns, gidgees or Hawaiian slings. Those minutes discuss enforcement difficulties and date from 2023; they are not, by themselves, confirmation of the local law’s current wording or penalties. The Town’s local-law material and DPIRD’s FHPA rules are distinct sources with overlapping subject matter.

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How to check beach conditions and shark alerts

The January 2025 closure is a historical event and does not indicate whether Cottesloe Beach is open now. The Town of Cottesloe advises visitors to follow signs and stay out of the water when a beach is closed because of a shark sighting or incident. Its Beaches page links to current beach conditions and SharkSmart information. Check those official channels for present-day conditions before entering the water.

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The Town says it uses beach patrols, a protected swimming enclosure and two Spectur Shark Warning Systems, located at Cove surf break and North Cottesloe. Rangers also patrol beach areas and may close beaches when a shark sighting or another safety hazard could endanger the public.

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