Humpback whale carcass attracts sharks, Australia

October 11, 2012

Pamela Mirghani

A whale carcass near a Wanneroo beach will attract sharks to the area, the Department of Fisheries has said.

The dead whale was spotted by the Westpac Rescue Helicopter 2km north of Burns Beach. Source: PerthNowA beached dead humpback whale calf was found last night by Fisheries and Department of Environment and Conservation officers after it was reported by members of the public.

The whale carcass was found near Burns beach and Clayton Beach, near Perth’s northern suburbs.

The six to seven metre-long carcass, which was between Clayton and Burns beaches, had already been attacked by predators, Department of Fisheries regional manager Tony Cappelluti said, and may have originally been larger than seven metres.

It was too late to move the carcass so Department officers left the carcass overnight and are currently on their way to see if the carcass is still on the beach, or has been washed out to sea overnight.

Mr Cappelluti said he was waiting for department officers to report back and one of the primary concerns was sharks in the area.

“It is highly likely it will attract sharks while it’s there and even after it’s removed, if there’s any bodily fluids or tissue around,” he said.

“If it’s still there the local authority will remove it.”

Mr Cappelluti didn’t yet know whether the Department of Fisheries would be standing by for shark sightings but said he thought the local shire would likely close the beach.

“People should avoid the area for a few days,” he said.

The warning comes a day after popular perth beaches were closed following the detection of a tagged white shark close to the shore.

Scarborough, Floreat and City Beaches  were all closed at various times yesterday  as the tagged shark moving down the coast.

watoday.com.au

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