Council unable to remove 'oozing' whale carcass washed up on Waterford beach
Whale carcass in January. Picture by John Foley
The whale that washed up on Ballinclamper Beach in January presents a health and safety hazard and needs to be removed.
That was according to Councillor Thomas Phelan at the February meeting of Dungarvan-Lismore District Council. Cllr Phelan said the carcass presented a health and safety hazard.
“It is a safety hazard with people climbing over rocks to get to it. It may also be a health hazard, particularly as it becomes malodorous as it oozes stuff out of it basically. It is not fair to neighbouring residents to leave it there to rot.
"It's also not appropriate on a blue flag beach close to Dungarvan that is so popular with tourists,” said Cllr Phelan. Waterford City and County Council Senior Engineer Gabriel Hynes, said it is located in a place very difficult for crews to reach. He said the council intended to allow the carcass to decompose and hoped the water washes it away.
“We have discussed it with the whale association. It is our view that we will let natural processes take place and natural decay, and then hopefully the tide will take the whale back out,” said Mr Hynes. Cllr Phelan suggested local landowners might allow access, however, Mr Hynes said that it won’t solve their access problem and that trying to intervene would still be costly and dangerous.
“I was hoping the last storm would have taken it away, but it didn’t,” said Mr Hynes.
Cllr Joe O’Riordan told the council someone had suggested to him that the council might look at having it scanned and a 3D model printed. He said this would act as an educational piece for the public.
“Wouldn’t it be a marvellous thing in the town if it were mapped and 3d printed and put down, say near the castle, you know that these creatures exist within a stone's throw geographically from us.
"It's kind of out there, but I just think it would be an absolutely marvellous thing for a town with such heritage and history of fishing and living from the sea. It would also be a tribute to the whale that came in. They are magnificent creatures," said Cllr O’Riordan. An official from the economic section replied that the councillor's suggestion was noted and Mr Hynes said the Irish Whale and Dolphin group had already collected information on the animal.
Both Waterford City and County Council and the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group have issued appeals to the public not to approach the carcass.
Decomposing animals poses a health risk to humans, and contact with a carcass should be avoided.
