Authorities have warned beachgoers in Albany, on Western Australia’s south coast, to exercise caution after sharks were attracted to the area by a whale carcass.

Middleton beach has been closed until the carcass can be removed.

The Department of Fisheries said a great white shark tagged by the State Government’s shark-monitoring network was detected in the area nine times in less than four hours.

Surf Life Saving WA has warned people to avoid swimming in the area.