Whale disposal scrutinised after boat ramp 'debacle' attracts sharks

Olaf Meynecke has called for disposal methods for dead whales to be revisited following an operation in Wollongong. (ABC: Glenn Mullane) A marine ecologist says a new centralised approach to whale disposal is needed after a "disastrous" operation in Wollongong. They say offshore disposal is a viable method that is cheaper, safer and better for the marine environment. Agencies have committed to a review of the operation. Link copiedShareShare articleExperts are calling for an overhaul of dead whale disposals after the removal of a carcass at a boat ramp north of Wollongong attracted more than a dozen sharks and angered locals. The carcass was pulled from a rock shelf at Era Beach in the Royal National Park and towed to Wollongong's Bellambi Boat Ramp, where it was hauled from the water by an excavator and taken to landfill. Divers, surfers and swimmers say they were put in danger by the removal because no safety warnings were issued, and the operation attracted at least 16 sharks to the area. The operation to remove the whale left the water around the Bellambi Boat Ramp churned and bloodied. (Supplied: Ben Shaw) It was labelled a "debacle" by Greens MLC Cate Faerhmann in parliament this week, and Wollongong mayor Tania Brown said "mistakes were made". Dr Olaf Meynecke has studied whale disposal for Griffith University's Whales and Climate Research Program and said with the whale population growing and the migration season approaching, the processes need to be reviewed. "We're definitely looking at higher numbers and the population is adapting to changes in the environment which means sometimes carcasses show up in places where they have never been seen before," he said. Local man Jake Oliver captured this drone image of a shark near the boat ramp on Saturday. (Supplied: Jake Oliver) Dr Meynecke wants to see whales disposed offshore rather than dumped in landfill or buried. "Towing whales offshore has been proven as an effective method," he said. Dr Meynecke said as part of his research, he successfully tracked a whale carcass towed offshore by a Queensland council in 2023 until it sank, and he is now trialling the method with other authorities successfully. The NSW National Parks and Wildlife oversaw last week's removal to Bellambi and area manager Brendon Neilly previously said the carcass could not be towed out because of a potential shipping hazard. The ABC understands the department's management plan does not include offshore towing because a previous attempt they undertook was unsuccessful with the whale carcass washing back into shore. Dr Meynecke successfully monitored the towing of a whale offshore by a Queensland council in 2023. (Supplied: Paddy Marine) Dr Meynecke said while they need more case studies, by tracking current forecasts and towing carcasses far enough, they can avoid that. "This is a viable method that's cost-effective and is also returning the nutrients back to the sea," he said. It's something marine biologist with Humane World for Animals Lawrence Chlebeck also wants to see. "There needs to be a much better way — a standard procedure for handling," he said. Dr Meynecke said a centralised agency on whale disposal led by the state government should also be established to take pressure off local councils, and to create a unified management plan. He said it should include local Aboriginal communities — for whom whales hold cultural significance — as well as scientists and state and local council authorities. Currently the land manager of the area where a carcass is stranded is responsible for disposal, which in most cases are local councils. Last week's removal was overseen by NPWS because the whale washed into Era Beach, but the jurisdictions created confusion. Tania Brown says the process needs to be reviewed. (ABC Illawarra: Penny Burfitt) The department said that, as the landowner, Wollongong City Council should have issued safety warnings for beaches and the ocean in their region. Wollongong Mayor Tania Brown said that was not made clear. "The communications from National Parks was that it was their operation and the email was not for distribution," she said. In a statement, NPWS said they had committed to an all-agency review which would look at "responsibilities, coordination, public safety and communication". Councillor Brown said Wollongong council supported a new centralised approach. Local man Darren Bissett captured this photo of the whale being towed in water he had been diving in. (Supplied: Darren Bissett) "I think we need to look at all options that would do it much better than was done the other day," she said. "It needs a coordinated approach [and] National Parks and Wildlife should be leading that so that all councils can learn from this." Copy linkFacebookX (formerly Twitter)PromotionTop StoriesFarrer result turns One Nation from protest to genuine electoral threatCAnalysis by Clare Armstrong

Whale disposal scrutinised after boat ramp 'debacle' attracts sharks

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