A member of the public has reported a whaler shark sighting off Safety Beach after noticing a dorsal fin breaking the surface while riding a jet ski.
The sighting was submitted through Dorsal Watch, a Victorian shark reporting platform, and lists the location as Tassells Cove, Safety Beach.
What has been reported
According to the public report, one whaler shark was sighted about 400 metres from shore at 12:34pm on Monday 12 January 2026.
The report was lodged by a Dorsal user identified as “Tina”, who stated the shark was observed from a jet ski.
saw fin pop up while on jetski
Attribution: Dorsal report comment submitted by “Tina”.
No images or video were attached to the report.
Recent shark reports in Portsea
The Safety Beach report follows two separate public reports of white shark sightings off Portsea late last month.
On 28 December 2025, STPL News reported a public Dorsal Watch alert describing a white shark estimated at about 2.5 metres, spotted from a boat about 150 metres offshore at Portsea Beach.
Read here: White Shark Sighting Portsea
On 29 December 2025, a second report was logged describing a white shark estimated at about three metres, reported about 50 metres offshore. The sighting notes stated the shark was filmed close to a boat while people were fishing off Portsea.
Read here: Second White Shark Sighting Portsea
What it means for beachgoers
There were no reports of any incident or injury. Shark sightings occur along the Mornington Peninsula coastline, particularly in summer when warmer water can draw sharks and their prey closer to shore.
“Whaler shark” is a broad term covering multiple species. In Victorian waters, sightings are often associated with bronze whalers, but species identification is not always possible from brief public reports.
Safety advice
Beachgoers and water users are encouraged to remain alert and to check official safety updates before entering the water, including the BeachSafe app for patrol and hazard information and Dorsal Watch for shark reports where available.
Anyone who sees a shark is advised to leave the water calmly and report the sighting through appropriate channels.
