Hi Everybody,

We are dealing with a dead ship-struck (intact) male Bryde’s Whale. The whale is 14m long and has been dead since at least 23.03.2009. It’s current position as at 12:56hrs on 31 March 2009 is 36° 33.970 South, 174° 00.840 East.

We cannot leave the whale to decompose on local beaches as we are located in a highly urbanised coastal region of New Zealand (Auckland, East Coast Bays). Recreational and commercial vessel use is very high in this area.

We have nearly run out of burial plots for dead cetaceans on uninhabited offshore islands in the Hauraki Gulf. There is also some developing scientific opinion that burying large cetaceans on these islands is affecting the local ecology adversely.

1. Does anyone have experience with sinking dead cetaceans as a disposal method?

2. Does anyone have any methods used to calculate buoyancy of dead whales based on species, gender, length, girth? Is days since death another factor that needs to be considered when calculating buoyancy?

3. We also need to consider environmentally friendly methods and materials when sinking the whale. I understand that concrete blocks take a long time to degrade in the marine environment; we may also need biodegradable ropes/attachment options when attaching any weights to the whale.

4. We have tried attaching about 5 tonnes of concrete blocks (weight in air) to the Brydes whale’s tail and lancing open various sections of the body cavity. This has been inadequate and the whale is still floating.

5. Does anyone have any idea of the time it takes for a whale of this size to decompose naturally in marine environment?

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. I am hoping that someone has already dealt with this issue…

Many thanks,

Greg

Greg Soljak

Ranger Marine Reserves

North Head Historic Reserve, Takarunga Road

P.O. Box 32-026, Devonport

North Shore City, NZ

Ph +64 09 445 9142

Fax + 64 09 445 9637

Mob 027 490 3330

Email: gsoljak@doc.govt.nz