The weekend could prove to be an indication of what’s to come this summer as most Great Lakes beaches were forced to close after numerous shark sightings.

Beach goers were removed from area such as Elizabeth Beach, Nine Mile Beach, Boomerang Point and the Tuncurry Breakwall as sharks exceeding two metres in length were spotted by the Department of Primary Industries’ (DPI) helicopter. 

The helicopter also spotted large schools of bait fish, known as pilchards, near the entrance to Wallis Lake.

Surf Live Saving Lower North Coast Branch president Brian Wilcox said the helicopter provides necessary assistance to lifeguards. 

“It gets down low and tells people what’s going on,” he said.

Mr Wilcox noted that two unrelated rescues were made locally over the weekend by Surf Live Saving lifeguards.

He said the message the organisation is trying to get across to the public is the importance of swimming on patrolled beaches, staying between the flags and knowing how to resuscitate.

“More than 50 per cent of incidents occur outside of the flags and patrolled hours,” Mr Wilcox said. 

Over the last ten years, 44 per cent of drownings occurred on the weekend.

He encouraged all beach users this season to download the Beachsafe app.

The app allows users to check when beaches are being patrolled, find out about any hazards (such as strong currents and sharks) as well as marine warnings, tide, swell and wind conditions. 

Meanwhile, Forster Surf Live Saving Club is holding community safety talks on Forster Main Beach this week. The talks provide beach safety and shark sighting information as well as demonstrations of CPR and defibrillators. 

The beach will also be a hive of activity on the long weekend for the annual Weekend of Surf.