The following statement was issued by the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service on 31 October 2024 in relation to the burial of a deceased whale near Pottsville:
The carcass of a 10-metre juvenile humpback whale that washed ashore last Friday on Mooball Beach near Pottsville on the far North Coast has been buried in the dunes behind the beach.
This method of disposal is consistent with the latest research, which shows that decomposition of whales buried above the water table and tide line, have very little detectable effect on the surrounding environment.
The carcass was buried behind the foredune, above the water table and tide line.
Estimated to be approximately 15 tonnes, the carcass was in an advanced state of decomposition.
To avoid having it break up and spread the carcass and its fluids along the beach during the removal process, it was determined by National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) that the best option was burial on site.
The burial is not expected to lead to any change in existing shark behaviour.
The location was chosen following consultation with the Tweed Shire Council, the EPA and Tweed Byron Local Aboriginal Land Council Rangers.
