Shark alarms for WA's popular surf breaks

Shark alarms are being installed along part of WA's southern coast best known for the Margaret River surf breaks, where there have been several attacks.

Shark alarms will be used along Western Australia's famous southern surf breaks to alert beachgoers when the apex predators come close to shore during a drumline trial.

Ahead of the trial starting before the end of this month, 240 seabed monitors are being deployed off the South West coast that will gather detailed data on tagged shark movements.

The seabed monitors are in addition to three new real-time, satellite-linked tagged shark detection receivers deployed in Gracetown, near Margaret River, an area where there have been several fatal shark attacks in recent years.

Nine shark alarms will be installed this week adjacent to main surf breaks using lights, sirens and audio broadcasts to tell swimmers and surfers when a shark is in the area.

"The new solar-powered alarms can be triggered remotely, making the local alert process faster and informing those already in the water," Fisheries Minister Dave Kelly said on Monday.

The layout of the seabed monitors aims to determine if sharks relocated during the trial come back close to the beach or remain offshore.

WA's famed Margaret River Pro competition was cancelled last year after two recreational surfers were separately attacked nearby.