Sydney Beaches Closed After Whale Carcass Draws Sharks to Royal National Park Waters

Several popular beaches in Sydney’s Royal National Park have been closed due to increased shark activity after a large whale carcass washed up on a rock platform.

Surf lifesavers noticed the whale carcass on Saturday morning on the southern end of Era Beach when they arrived for patrols.

Garie, Wattamolla, Era and Burning Palms beaches have been closed as a result of the shark activity.

Surf Life Saving NSW says there have been reports of large white and bull sharks in the water near the carcass.

“The lifesavers are reporting a significant amount of sharks visibly off the beach and around the rock platform,” Surf Life Saving NSW (SLSNSW) CEO Stephen Pearce said.

“Our warning is, ‘Don’t go in the water’. You 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.”

Beachgoers are being advised to avoid surfing, swimming, diving or spearfishing in the affected area.

Shark surveillance drones and jet skis have been relocated to keep watch over the area.

Beachgoers are warned to stay out of the water, with beaches expected to stay closed for at least 24 hours.

The species of the whale is unclear, though it appears to have been decaying for some time out to sea.