A 36-year-old man received a reported $200 infringement after a bronze whaler was found inside the shark barrier at Cottesloe Beach in January 2025. The infringement was for possessing a speargun on land adjacent to the closed reef waters—not, according to the report, a court fine or conviction for shooting the shark. The alleged shooting and the possession infringement are distinct matters.
What happened at Cottesloe Beach?
On the morning of 8 January 2025, a 1.5-metre bronze whaler was seen inside the protected swimming barrier at Cottesloe Beach, Western Australia. Authorities closed the beach and directed swimmers out of the water. The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development said it was following up a report that the shark had been shot with a speargun. ABC News reported the initial sighting and closure.
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PerthNow subsequently reported that speargun use in the Cottesloe Reef Fish Habitat Protection Area was an offence. That reported restriction concerns the alleged use of the speargun in the protected area; it should not be confused with the separate infringement later reported against a man for possession.
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On 6 February 2025, PerthNow reported that a 36-year-old man from Wongan Hills had received a $200 infringement for possessing a speargun on land adjacent to the closed reef waters. The report does not establish that a court convicted him, or that the infringement itself was specifically for shooting the shark. It also does not establish an adjudicated outcome on the shooting allegation. PerthNow’s outcome report describes the infringement basis.
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How was the shark released?
Authorities widened an opening in the barrier on 9 January, creating a gap reported to be approximately 30 metres. PerthNow reported that drone footage showed the shark leaving through that opening the next day after it was first seen inside. The report attributed the observation that the shark appeared injured to surf lifesaver Clifford Ford; that was a witness observation, not an official finding about the shark’s injury or its cause. PerthNow’s follow-up covered the release and the reported restriction.
What is known about the barrier—and how the shark got inside?
The Town of Cottesloe is responsible for the enclosure. Its description says the flexible nylon barrier extends 170 metres north from the groyne and 140 metres from shore, and is operated seasonally. The Town announced that a replacement enclosure was installed from 1 November 2024, with Eco Shark Barrier identified as supplier and maintenance contractor. Those details describe the infrastructure, but do not explain how the shark crossed into the enclosed area.
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In an 8 April 2025 Legislative Council response, the Fisheries Minister referred questions about how the shark entered, prevention measures and investigation findings to the Town. The response located does not give a cause of entry or disclose findings. The Town’s protected swimming enclosure page, its November 2024 installation announcement and the parliamentary response provide the available infrastructure and responsibility details.
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Why was the beach closed?
The closure followed the discovery of a shark inside the swimming enclosure, with swimmers directed out while authorities managed the situation. Cottesloe CEO Matthew Scott told ABC News, “It’s so rare we are creating our own processes to try and resolve the situation,” and said, “It’s the first time it’s happened in the five years Cottesloe has had a shark barrier.” Those comments describe the Town’s experience at that time, not a broader incident-rate study.
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