Australia Day beachgoers face heightened shark safety concerns following a recent spike in shark sightings and attacks. Seven beaches in New South Wales were evacuated over the weekend after lifeguards spotted 10 sharks on Saturday alone, while Queensland figures show shark catches have doubled in 2025. Shark scientist Dr Leonardo Guida recommends swimming at patrolled beaches between the flags, avoiding dawn and dusk swimming, and checking local SharkSmart websites for safety information.