© ABC: Stan ShawThe carcass of a one-year-old humpback whale is removed from Middleton Beach.
Middleton Beach was closed after the five-metre carcass, suspected to be a one-year-old humpback whale, was discovered this morning.
Heavy machinery was brought in to remove the dead whale from the popular swimming area.
Authorities believe it came ashore overnight whilst still alive, but died a few hours later.
Deon Utber from the Department of Parks and Wildlife said tissue samples from the whale would be taken for analysis.
"It was probably a calf returning from last season, it was obviously very malnourished," he said.
"A pod of humpback whales was seen out here this morning so this whale was probably from that pod.
"When this species becomes sick, they do come into the shore to die.
"The animal is taken off the beach, we take some samples and some measurements and it's then disposed of."
Multiple sharks spotted in popular swimming area
Multiple shark sightings and fears the whale carcass would attract more of the predators led to the closure of the beach.
One great white shark that had been tagged by the State Government's shark-monitoring network was detected in the area nine times in less than four hours.
The network, set up in 2009, involves the use of satellite-linked technology to track sharks fitted with acoustic transmitters off Perth and WA's south coast.
Signals are detected when a shark swims within 500 metres of an acoustic receiver and are tweeted by authorities to warn beachgoers.
Fisheries advise: tagged White shark detected at Ellen Cove, Albany receiver at 09:31:00 AM on 12-Apr-2014The program, due to expire in 2015, aims to gain a better understanding of when and why sharks visit particular locations.
- Surf Life Saving WA (@SLSWA) April 12, 2014
Authorities have warned people to be cautious if they want to swim off the Albany coast for the next 48 hours.
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