Whale Tow Sparks Shark Fears South of Sydney

A recent operation to remove a large sperm whale carcass from a remote beach near Sydney has led to significant criticism regarding public safety and communication. The decomposing 20 to 25-tonne, eight-metre-long sperm whale was discovered on April 25, 2026, at Era beach. Due to difficult access, the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) contracted a tugboat to tow the carcass over 20km to Bellambi boat ramp.

Concerns have been raised by local councillors, surfers, divers, and fishers who claim they were not adequately warned about the towing operation and the potential for increased shark activity. Some individuals were reportedly already in the water, unaware of the approaching hazard. The advanced state of decomposition made the removal challenging, and the operation resulted in a significant slick.

Responsibility for public warnings remains a point of contention between the NPWS and Wollongong City Council. While the NPWS managed the carcass removal, they stated the council was responsible for beach closures and warnings. The council, however, claims the NPWS provided an unclear timeline and was the lead agency for communications. Surf Life Saving NSW also reported a lack of specific notification about the destination.

Following the incident, there have been multiple shark sightings in the area, including a bull shark and a tiger shark. Wollongong's lord mayor has requested a meeting with state ministers to establish clearer protocols for future whale carcass removals. The NPWS has stated it will conduct a review of the operation to identify lessons learned.