PEOPLE are being urged to avoid the Sandy Point beach after a whale carcass was located in the area.
VicEmergency has sent out an advice warning noting that people should avoid the area, stay informed and do not enter the water as the beach is closed.
Whale carcasses often attract sharks and will likely mean increased shark activity, potentially closer to shore if so.
It’s understood that wildlife officers and park rangers are at the scene assisting with the management of the carcass.
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Update from Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action:
Sandy Point beach in South Gippsland will be closed to the public until further notice after an eight-metre juvenile humpback whale washed up on the beach.
The deceased whale, which was first reported on Thursday morning, is located a few hundred metres from the surf lifesaving club.
Signage is installed and community members are asked to keep off the beach for their own safety.
A shark warning is in place for the local area, with updates via the Vic Emergency website and app https://emergency.vic.gov.au/respond/
The Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) has established an Incident Management Team to deal with the whale stranding.
Incident Controller Brett Mitchell said the team was currently looking at options of how to clear the beach of the carcass.
“We are unable to tow it back into the sea as it could be a danger to shipping,” he said.
“Burial at the current location is not a suitable option as oils can leach from sand for months after burial.”
“So we are currently investigating removing the carcass to a suitable location that takes into account environment considerations and respects areas of cultural sensitivity for Traditional Owners.”
Mr Mitchell urged members of the public to follow warning signs and avoid the area.
“The whale was partially eaten by sharks before washing up on the beach, so there’s a high likelihood of sharks remaining in the vicinity,” he said.
“We don’t want people in the water over the next few days or anyone going near the whale.”
It is an offence for people or their dogs to be within 300 metres of a whale.
Whales are protected under the Wildlife Act – regardless of whether they are alive or dead.
It is an offence to interfere with, take or be in possession of parts of a dead whale.
Sandy Point beach is expected to be closed until Monday.
Humpback whales migrate through Victorian waters in spring on their way back from northern Australia to their Antarctic feeding grounds.
