- – By Bev Mortimer
A whale that washed up at Oyster Bay Main Beach today led to the closure of the beach, plus warnings of possible increased shark activity on the coastline from St Francis Bay to Plettenberg Bay.
NSRI Oyster Bay crew found the large Humpback whale at 10.26 am. They alerted the Marine Stranding Network and Disaster Risk and also called marine scientists and a vet to the beach.
As the whale was in poor health and hard aground in shallow surf the vet decided it should be humanely euthanised. This was done by the SAPS in the afternoon under the vet’s guidance.
The NSRI and municipal authorities advised bathers, paddlers and fishermen to be cautious as “there is the strong likelihood of increased shark activity” because of the beached whale carcass.
Plans to remove the carcass are being investigated, the NSRI added.
St Francis Chronicle 