Culture
21:31, 20-Sep-2017
Besieged by great white sharks, Australians protest whale burial
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Remember Steven Spielberg's “Jaws”? People living in eastern Australia’s New South Wales don't have to, as a massive increase in the local shark population has left their beaches resembling a real life Amity Island.
Swimmers and surfers were ready to descend on Nobby’s Beach in Port Macquarie for what local weather stations called the “hottest September weekend" on record. However, no less than 21 great white sharks were detected near the beach on Wednesday - only two days after the carcass of a 12-meter long humpback whale was buried on the shore.
Carcass of whale on shore. /Photo by Nathan Edwards via News Corp Australia
Carcass of whale on shore. /Photo by Nathan Edwards via News Corp Australia
The burial on Monday has caused an uproar in the community as many feared that the decision could lead to public security dangers.
According to Port Macquarie-Hastings council director Matt Rogers, the decision was made because the whale’s carcass was too big to be moved elsewhere.
“I want to assure our community that the decision to bury the whale was not taken lightly,” said Rogers, cited by local newspapers.
However, local residents refused to believe that explanation. A petition has just been launched, demanding the council to dig up the whale and dispose it elsewhere. It has gained over 2,300 signatures within 24 hours.
“As we have seen, the dead whale increased shark activity, particularly great whites ... and represents a huge physical threat to Port Macquarie locals and tourists alike,” reads the petition.
Carcass of whale on shore. /Photo by Nathan Edwards via News Corp Australia
Carcass of whale on shore. /Photo by Nathan Edwards via News Corp Australia
The petition said the buried carcass, and the seepage of the whale oil, would attract sharks for several years in the future.
“I definitely won’t be swimming in the water — absolutely not,” said Geoff Shelton, senior skipper of the Port Macquarie Marine Rescue unit.
Shelton has joined the protesting locals, among whom a renowned local diver, Rich Anderson was also spotted. Anderson was well-known for cultivating friendships with sharks during his dives.
“It was a cheap shortcut. I base that opinion on a lifetime of being in the water in Port Macquarie,” said Anderson, hitting out at the decision made by the council.
According to local newspapers, the whale travelled from Tasmania, and was feared dead from exhaustion after entangled in fishing ropes.
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