A Great White shark was sighted close to Australian beach

BEACHGOERS have been urged to take care after a great white shark was spotted close to shore off the West Australian coast twice in recent days.

Department of Fisheries metropolitan regional manager Tony Cappelluti said a commercial fisherman had reported a great white, attracted by schooling pink snapper off Warnbro Sound, in recent days.

"The fisherman says he saw a great white shark that was around five to six metres long and, on both occasions, it was seen at the southern end of Warnbro Sound,'' Mr Cappelluti said.

"No one knows for sure if it is the same shark, but we have two sightings, not far from the water ski take-off area, so we must warn people of the potential of this, or other, sharks being attracted to the area by spawning fish.''

The shark has been seen within 100m of the beach, south of Perth.

The Department of Fisheries recommended that people swim between the flags at patrolled beaches, avoid swimming in the water around dusk and dawn, and avoid areas where there are large schools of fish to avoid shark attacks.