Local fishermen, surfers, and divers are expressing their concerns regarding the towing of a large whale carcass along a 20-kilometer stretch of coastline south of Sydney, which has led to a rise in shark sightings. A councillor from Wollongong City is calling for an investigation into the operation that took place last week to remove a sperm whale from a secluded area in the Royal National Park.

Greens councillor Jess Whittaker criticized the operation as “clumsy” and noted that it lacked effective communication. “The community was unfairly put in danger, as the whale was not treated with the respect it deserved, and our beaches may face increased shark activity for weeks due to this mismanagement,” she stated.

Whittaker is urging that the review involves all agencies connected to the operation. She highlighted a significant oversight in failing to notify individuals in the water that the whale carcass was being towed, citing a “lack of any media plan.” Furthermore, she pointed out that the Bellambi boat ramp was open that morning, which left some fishermen stranded at sea when the whale was towed ashore.

“The review should also assess worker safety and the equipment used to handle the whale at the boat ramp,” she added. “When the machinery failed to lift the large carcass, it was instead dismantled and loaded in parts, resulting in a considerable slick of fish waste.”

The decomposing sperm whale was found on Saturday, April 25, after washing up on a rock platform at Era Beach. Due to limited vehicle access, the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) enlisted a contractor to use a tugboat capable of carrying 60 tonnes. The extraction operation was timed according to the tides to facilitate the removal of the estimated 20 to 25-tonne, eight-meter-long carcass.

A spokesperson for NPWS acknowledged the challenges posed by the whale’s advanced decomposition, stating, “It was not practical to simply tow the carcass out to sea, as this could lead to shipping hazards lasting several weeks.” They further noted that this approach could have complicated future removal efforts if the whale drifted to another location.

NPWS mentioned they consulted the local Aboriginal community to respect cultural values and identified Bellambi boat ramp as the most appropriate extraction site based on consultation with Wollongong City Council. The ramp was deemed to provide optimal water and road access for such a large carcass.

On Friday morning, the whale was lifted from the rocks and towed over 20 kilometers to Bellambi, where it was broken apart and transported in skip bins to the Whytes Gully waste facility.

According to SharkSmart, Surf Life Saving NSW reported a shark sighting at Bellambi Beach at 11 AM that day, leading to the evacuation of the water and closure of the beach. Over the weekend, a total of 16 sharks were spotted in the area, including a bull shark at Woonona Point and a 3.73-meter tiger shark tagged and released from a SMART drumline at Corrimal Beach.

Local spear fisherman Darren Bissett recounted that his Friday morning started like any other while spearfishing off the coast. After checking weather conditions and local social media for hazards, he and his dive partner were unaware that the whale carcass was being towed just 500 meters away, attracting sharks.