Disturbing pictures show dozens of dead sharks laying on a popular tourist beach – leaving authorities scrambling to figure out what happened

Dozens of dead sharks have been photographed lying on the shore of a popular tourist beach in Queensland.

The horrifying images were shared to Instagram on Friday and show countless dead sharks lying on the sand of South Stradbroke Island near the Gold Coast.

The Department of Fisheries are now racing to determine just what happened to the mass group of fish. 

Dozens of dead sharks were captured lying on the sand of South Stradbroke Island near the Gold Coast

'Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol will investigate whether the reports of dead sharks on the beach are current and whether their presence is due to discarded bycatch,' a spokesperson told the Courier Mail.

A team will be sent out to the area to see if any crimes had been committed.

After the photos were shared online many said the scene was 'devastating' while others suggested they may have been netted to use as flake for fish and chips.

In another harrowing incident just days earlier, a Great White shark was found washed onto the rocks at Point Lowly, near Whyalla in South Australia.

The bloodied shark was found on Tuesday with speculation rife on social media it was hooked by a local fisherman and left to bleed out.

In Australia Great White sharks are considered a protected species and anyone targeting the animal faces fines of up to $10,000.   

After the photos were shared online many said the scene was 'devastating' while others suggested they may have been netted to use as flake for fish and chips

Investigations are underway into the animal's death after it was discovered at Point Lowly, near Whyalla in South Australia on Tuesday

Members of the Whyalla Fishing Page were quick to launch their own investigation into the animal's death.

One shared a number of photos showing the shark further out at sea, and a picture of two men; one who had hooked something large and heavy on his fishing rod.

Another photo appears to show two men on the rocks hauling the animal into the shore.  

The Department of Primary Industries and Regions have since removed the shark to investigate its cause of death.

'Fisheries Officers from the Department of Primary Industries and Regions have responded to reports of a dead protected white shark washed up on rocks near Port Lowly on Tuesday afternoon,' a spokeswoman said.

'With the assistance of locals, the shark was located and retrieved for forensic examination as part of an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the possible cause of death.' 

Another photo appears to show two men on the rocks hauling the animal into the shore