THE Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (Edtea) has refuted speculation that seismic studies along northern KZN’s coastline have caused the increase in beached whales.
Edtea stated in its Ulwandle newsletter that the eight whales and four dolphins found stranded in KZN this year were caused by natural and anthropogenic (pollution) factors.
These include diseases, abandoned neonates, severe oceanographic and weather conditions, predatory interactions, natural toxins, normal mortalities, noise interference, toxins, entanglements and injuries from shipping.
‘The alarmed public have questioned the authorities about whether these strandings are caused by seismic activity from offshore mineral exploration.
‘The number of animals stranded is not unusually high and linking strandings with seismic surveys is premature.
‘Since the moratorium on whaling in South Africa (1979), an increase in the whale population has occurred, which may account for the increase in strandings observed.’
Edtea added KZN is the only province with a stranded marine animal network, which records and monitors the animals.
This is coordinated by Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife in collaboration with the South African Association for Marine Biological Research (SAAMBR), KZN Sharks Board, Edtea, coastal municipalities and various NGO’s.
According to the records, an average of seven dolphins and five whales beach per year and a total of 44 whales, seals, turtles, dolphins and seabirds are stranded annually.
A maximum of 10 dolphins were beached in 2010 and 13 whales in 2012.
Latest surveys indicate as many as 7 000 humpback whales and more than 1 000 Southern Right whales migrate past KZN each year on route between their summer polar feeding grounds in the Antarctic to the tropical and sub-tropical coastal waters of Northern Mozambique and Madagascar where they breed in the winter.
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