WEST POINT
Provincial and federal officials are mobilizing to see what can be done to collect and dispose of a beached whale in West Point.
Reg MqcWilliams from Moncton, who has relatives in the area, spotted the whale Wednesday while kayaking just offshore. He paddled in for a closer look.His measurements indicate the whale is approximately seven point three (7.3) meters in hength and, from an online research, he believes the dead whale to be from the minke species.
The whale beached itself along MacDonald’s shore, but around a point from the MacDonald’s Shore beach access.
MacWilliams said its location, between two points that jut into the Northumberland Strait, makes it difficult to access on foot or by machine.
Dave MacEwen, Marine Fisheries manager, Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, said collection and disposal is usually contracted out to a private contractor. He said his department was awaiting coordinates from Department of Fisheries and Oceans personnel. If the whale proves difficult to access from the beach, he said, then a fishing boat might need to be called in to tow it to a more accessible location. He said the Atlantic Veterinary College will also be contacted to see if they wish to perform a necropsy to determine the cause of death.
