Urgent shark warning over fears Great Whites could strike in huge numbers off popular beach

BEACHGOERS have been warned to stay clear of a popular beach after fears a rotting whale carcass could attract hungry sharks.

Experts are worried the dead whale could spark a deadly shark infestation at Big Beach near Mallacoota in Victoria, Australia.

Authorities issued a “Dangerous Animal” warning as the Department of Environment Land Water and Planning Wildlife continue to monitor the whale.

“Due to a whale carcass there could be an increase in shark activity,” the Victorian Fisheries Authority told visitors.

Surfers and swimmers have been asked to steer clear of the area, to avoid being mistaken for a prey.

“You should exercise additional caution until the whale has decomposed,” the advice read.

“Stay informed and do not enter the water at closed beaches. Any shark over 2m in length is considered dangerous.”

The warning comes after a huge white humpback washed up on a sandbank only accessible by water some one kilometre from Mallacoota earlier this month.

Visitors are encouraged to notify the authorities should they spot anything in the water.

Other beaches in the area have also asked beachgoers to up their vigilance.

“Always swim, dive or surf with a friend [and] swim between the red and yellow flags on patrolled beaches,” the guidance reads.

Last month, beachgoers and surfers were warned huge sharks were stalking swimmers off a famous beach in Queensland as the annual migration kicked off.

A former champion surfer shared the dramatic moment his nephew survived a shark attack off Frenchman’s Beach, in the southeast of the Australian state.

Russell Specht, who posted an aerial photo of the monster shark, said his lifeguard nephew Logan had a “really close call” while surfing the popular break.

Between June and August every year, whales typically move up to Australia’s East Coast’s warmer waters to mate, bringing in their wake large numbers of killer sharks.

In March, Aussie snapper Sean Scott left the internet stunned when he shared the chilling drone footage of a shark prowling off Australia’s west coast before vanishing in a flash.

This came a year after a huge 400kg tiger shark was reeled in by a group of Sydney fishermen after a 45-minute grapple with the ferocious beast.

The sharks can grow up to 7.62 metres long and sometimes weigh more than 800kgs. 

There were 18 shark attacks in Australia in 2021 including three fatalities.