Two Melbourne beaches have been re-opened after a spate of earlier shark sightings along Victoria’s coastline forced their closure.
St Kilda Beach, six kilometres from the CBD, and Elwood Beach, in Port Phillip, were closed just after 12.30pm after a 1.5-metre shark was spotted near the shore.
Both beaches have now been re-opened, Surf Life Saving Victoria confirmed.
Fairhaven beach, on the Great Ocean Road, remains closed after several shark sightings over the weekend.
On Friday, a 3.5-metre great white shark was seen near the shoreline.
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Authorities have said two Westpac rescue helicopters will continue patrolling over the summer with the help of the CFA's Firebird 300 helicopter.
Fisheries Victoria reported that more sharks have been spotted this Christmas and New Year period than in the same period in previous years.
More than 30 sharks were seen along the Victorian coastline on Boxing Day alone.
"We are asking Victorians to keep up to date with the reported shark sightings and take heed of warnings," Fisheries Victoria director Travis Dowling said yesterday.
The majority of the sharks spotted have been bronze whalers, but a few great whites have also been reported.
If swimmers and beachgoers see shark-spotting helicopters hovering above the water and sounding a siren, they should leave the water immediately until the shark has passed or until further notice from surf patrols.
With AAP