Whale Carcass at City Beach Sparks Shark Tagging and Removal Mission

A massive whale carcass has washed up at City Beach, prompting authorities to launch a shark tagging mission and a complex removal operation. The 10-metre specimen, which has been attracting sharks to within metres of the shoreline, has forced the closure of several beaches in the Town of Cambridge.

Mayor Gary Mack said the council was working to transport the carcass to landfill, a process that is proving to be a significant challenge. "I've been warned by people that were involved in the Scarborough incident ... that it is going to be expensive," he said. "But one thing we do know is that we can't wait, we've got to get that carcass removed as soon as possible and that's our intent."

The council is currently obtaining quotes from contractors to remove the carcass, which is not viable to tow out to sea. In 2014, the state government ended up paying half of the $188,000 bill to remove a whale carcass from Scarborough Beach after a dispute erupted over who should bear the cost.

Fisheries Minister Jackie Jarvis confirmed that drum lines had been placed in the water to tag sharks circling the beach. "We make use of opportunistic tagging opportunities … and we'll tag as many sharks as we can," she said. However, she described the tagging operation as a "mammoth task" and said its success was dependent on weather conditions.

The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) has noted that previous attempts to tow whale carcasses out to sea have been unsuccessful, largely due to the Leeuwin current. Minister Jarvis explained that towing the carcass out to sea could also cause it to break up and wash back onto shore, increasing shark activity.

Beaches in the area will likely remain closed for several days, with Mr Mack stating that they will not reopen until every part of the carcass is removed. He also warned that oils from the carcass will remain in the water even after it is taken away.

Minister Jarvis said she had not been briefed on the cost of removing the carcass, which is a matter for the Town of Cambridge and the DBCA. "Generally local governments manage these types of things on beaches, that is part of their responsibility, but I won’t provide further comment," she said.