Paddle Out For Sharks worried about whale burial
The Paddle Out for Sharks (POFS) is disappointed to hear of Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife's plans to dispose of the six-ton whale carcass that washed up on an Amanzimtoti beach on Thursday by dismembering the carcass and burying some of the flesh and organs above the high tide mark.
The whale carcass is currently leaching blood and oil into the sea and the KZN Sharks Board has lifted certain shark nets to avoid sharks becoming entangled in shark nets and closed nearby beaches to bathing to protect bathers. POFS supports the KZNSB’s approach to this sad story.
“However, we are disappointed with Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife’s approach because the decomposition could take years, with the dead whale’s oil leaching into the sea over a long period of time,” read the statement.
“Other possible effects include the spring tide revealing the rotting carcass. Quite obviously the tactic of burying the whale carcass will serve as a shark-chumming device for quite a while.”
POFS believes the action of burying the carcass, or parts of the carcass will strain the shark net management as well as bathing restrictions for a long time. “We are concerned that the blame for any shark-related incidents will be attributed to the sharks by the public and not the rotting carcass (chumming device). The presence of the decaying carcass may also pose a biohazard.”
They understand the carcass could not have been disposed of by towing it out to sea but would have preferred to see it disposed of by processing of the remains in a controlled environment.
Follow the story of the beached whale here
Those who must dispose the remains of the whale have a real headache, it is easier said than done. True, burying the animal at high water mark will certainly cause a stench problem when spring tide comes around and yes, sharks will certainly be a problem. Also true, knowing the the area quite well, I doubt a strong enough vessel will be able to come close enough to tow the animal out to sea because of the protruding rock shelf about fifty meters out. Cutting the animal to pieces will cause a terrible stench, as by the time it has been dismembered the elements would have negatively effected the remains of the decomposing carcass, and there is no way one could burn the carcass, as it is to close to Pahla, and one could not let the people of that area go through the stench of burning meat that is rotting. Thus, with my limited knowledge, burying it deep seems to be the most cost effective way to dispose of the carcass. Unfortunately, whatever the people who must tackle this very unpleasant job of disposing of the carcass, will be bombarded with abuse. My sympathy go out to those who must do the unpleasant work.