Two large sharks sighted off Rottnest Island

Updated October 31, 2011 19:56:07

The Rottnest Island Authority says several beaches will remain closed overnight after two five-metre great white sharks were spotted off the coast of the island.

Surf Lifesaving WA says the sharks were spotted by an aerial patrol this afternoon about 200 metres off shore.

The authority has closed beaches at Green Island and Strickland and Salmon bays.

The authority's Roland Mau has told the ABC that action was taken to protect beachgoers.
"We are, especially in light of the recent events being more precautious, so we are extending the closure overnight until next morning," he said.

"Awaiting obviously further monitoring in that area if there's further sightings and extending any closures if necessary."

Surf Lifesaving WA says a helicopter tracked the sharks as they moved in a westerly direction.

Mr Mau says shutting the beaches was the sensible move.

"To the west side of it is Strickland which is popular with surfers, and up the other side is Salmon Bay," he said.

"At this stage, we only had about six visitors enjoying the beaches, nobody in the water, and people understood what we were doing in terms of the precautionary measures we were taking."

The sighting comes just over a week after an American man was killed by a shark while diving off Rottnest.

George Thomas Wainwright was scuba diving about 500 metres off shore on the opposite side of the island at Little Armstrong Bay when he was attacked.

His body surfaced with horrific injuries.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-10-31/shark-sighted-rottnest/3611120?section=wa