Moray Council is asking members of the public to avoid an area of Lossiemouth’s West Beach due to a stranded minke whale being washed up.
The local authority’s Environmental Health service is monitoring a seven metre minke whale between the low and high water marks around half way along the beach between the West Beach café and Covesea lighthouse.
The Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme (SMASS) have been notified but are not able to remove the whale for scientific research due to its decomposed state.
Indications show it’s likely the whale died from becoming entangled in creel lines.
At under 25ft (7.62m) the whale is not classified as a ‘royal fish’, which would see the Scottish Government have first claim on those found dead or stranded on the shoreline in Scotland on behalf of the Crown.
The responsibility of dealing with this carcass lies with Moray Council.
For a number of reasons Moray Council’s Environmental Health service has taken the decision to leave the whale in its current location and let nature or the tide take its course.
Limited access to the beach for the necessary vehicles, along with the soft sand, would make the removal of a decomposing whale carcass extremely difficult.
The carcass will continue to be monitored and members of the public are reminded to avoid getting too close to the whale carcass and keep children and dogs under control.
Moray Council’s Acting Head of Economic Growth and Development, Beverly Smith, said:
“While it’s a distressing sight to see we know that nature will take its course and the whale will eventually disappear.
“The difficulties in removing the carcass are numerous and it would be unsafe and impractical to do so.
“I echo the reminder from our Environmental Health team to avoid the area for the time being and to keep dogs and children away from the whale.”
