Ocean Sentry
(From odt.co.nz)- A dead whale lying on Ocean View Beach near Brighton, has been illegally butchered. Under the Marine Mammal Protection Act it is illegal to take any part of a marine mammal without proper authorisation. The 5.9m mature female, believed to be a type of beaked whale, washed up on the high tide mark overnight on Friday. It was still warm when found on Saturday morning. However, someone came along during the night and took a “huge back strap” and the tail fin. Otago Conservation Board chairman Hoani Langsbury said he was very concerned that someone would do such a thing to a defenseless marine mammal. If the culprits were found, he would recommend enforcement action was taken.
(By Rebecca Fox)
