Six white sharks tagged off Perth coast

Six white sharks have been tagged off the Perth coast in the past two weeks, indicating an unusually high level of the species in metropolitan waters.

Department of Fisheries supervising finfish scientist Brett Molony said larger than usual schools of salmon for this time of year could be a contributing factor.

"The tagging has been occurring well offshore at Mewstone and Straggler Reefs, but as these sharks travel widely and rapidly, it is considered that there is currently a heightened risk of encountering sharks throughout metropolitan waters," Dr Molony said.