Several beaches along southern Sydney have been shut after a dead whale carcass washed up on a beach, sparking a possible shark risk.
The large whale carcass was found washed ashore at a beach in Era in Sydney’s Royal National Park on Saturday, and is in a heavy state of decomposition.
“This has resulted in heightened shark activity along the coastline, with large sharks sighted in the area,” a NSW National Parks statement read.
Beaches between Garie and Burning Palms, including Wattamolla and Era have been closed.
Visitors have been urged to stay out of the water due to a heightened risk of shark activity.
Surf Life Saving NSW chief executive Stephen Pearce said the whale had been decomposing for “a little while while out to sea”.
He explained there was a heightened risk of shark activity and warned visitors to keep out of the water.
“The lifesavers are reporting a significant amount of sharks visibly off the beach and around the rock platform,” he told the ABC.
“We 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.”
It is not known what species of whale was located on the beach.
Surf lifesavers are continuing to patrol the areas.
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