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Sydney Beaches Closed: Whale Carcass Attracts Sharks
23 Oct
Summary
- Juvenile humpback carcass wedged between rocks, attracting sharks.
- First Nations rangers prefer towing carcass to sea for natural decomposition.
- Whale's advanced decay makes burial on conservation land challenging.
A juvenile humpback whale carcass has caused the closure of two popular Sydney beaches, Coogee and Maroubra, after washing ashore in Lurline Bay. The remains are lodged between rocks, and despite initial hopes, high tides have failed to dislodge it.
The carcass is attracting sharks, leading to beach closures and warnings for the public to avoid the area. While initial drone surveillance found no shark activity, further tides could bring the whale closer to shore.
First Nations rangers, representing the Bidjigal people for whom the whale is a totem animal, are advocating for the carcass to be towed back out to sea. They believe this will allow natural decomposition, a preferred option over landfill, which they deem distressing and environmentally unsound.
Due to the whale's advanced decay, traditional burial on conservation land is not feasible. Experts suggest towing carcasses offshore, up to 50km, supports the marine ecosystem and helps deter sharks from nearshore areas. In Western Australia, a similar situation led to the closure of Cottesloe beach.
