Shark sightings up as helicopter patrols wind down for the season.

Surf Life Saving WA’s State Government-funded Westpac Lifesaver Rescue Helicopter Service (WLRHS), which operates out of bases in North Fremantle and Busselton, will fly its final patrols today as they finish up for the summer season.

Since September 2023, the Service has flown nearly 1,000 hours across more than 740 patrols.

This season, the increase in shark activity across the metropolitan area was significant. There was a more than 60% increase in sightings*, with sharks spotted on over 430 occasions, and a more than 185% increase in the number of sharks spotted. The largest increase was seen in February of this year.

Commensurate with the increase in sightings, the clearances of beach users also increased by more than 70%.

Over the same period, sightings in the south west were up by approximately 35%, with a more than 80% increase in the number of sharks sighted.  The greatest activity was recorded over the past month.

Just yesterday, the State Government announced ongoing funding for their Shark Mitigation Strategy, which includes $12.6 million allocated to the Westpac Lifesaver Rescue Helicopter patrols, SLSWA’s emergency communications network, and other emergency response activity for a further four years.

Surf Life Saving WA’s General Manager of Lifesaving, Chris Peck, said these figures continue to demonstrate how important the Service is to delivering public beach safety across vast expanses of coastline.

“While in WA we are blessed with so many accessible beaches, it does provide a challenge when it comes to helping keep beachgoers safe”, said Mr Peck.

“That is why the Services’ unrivalled ability to cover vast expanses of coast in a relatively short period of time makes it such a vital piece of coastal safety initiatives and the state government’s shark mitigation strategy.

“While we saw a large increase in shark numbers and sightings, equally important is the increase in clearances by our crew, demonstrating how instrumental the Service is in keeping beachgoers safe.”

Over the past season, the Service was also tasked with assisting on 27 search and rescue missions across the metropolitan and south west regions and was instrumental in the successful rescue of a stranded fisherman off Carnac Island last month.

Surf Life Saving’s volunteer beach patrols have also wound up for the season, with the exception of Broome Surf Life Saving Club, where members have recently commenced their patrols on Cable Beach, through until October.

Some Lifeguard services are also still active at popular metropolitan beaches, and beachgoers are urged to seek out those locations before entering the water.

Westpac Lifesaver Rescue Helicopter patrols will recommence in September 2024 and volunteer Lifesaver patrols from October.

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*The number of occasions on which sharks have been sighted, either individually or in schools.

The Westpac Lifesaver Rescue Helicopter Service is proudly supported by the Government of Western Australia and partnered by Westpac.