Esperance locals are split over an increase of white shark activity at the town's beaches in the last two weeks.

The popular tourist town on WA's south east coast, about 700 kilometres from Perth, swells in population during the summer months as people flock to some of the best beaches in the country.

On Tuesday the decaying carcass of a large whale washed ashore at Salmon Beach which attracted white sharks and forced a beach closure.

The Shire of Esperance removed the carcass on Wednesday afternoon and disposed of it at a nearby waste facility.

The shire said the removal cost was about $10,000.

Wildlife videographer and tourism operator Jaimen Hudson said locals who had originally sighted the carcass at sea believed it to be a capsized boat.

"On becoming clear that it was a whale ca

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