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 MacWilliams from Moncton, who has relatives in the area, spotted the whale Wednesday while kayaking just offshore. His measurements indicate the whale is approximately 7.3 metres in length and, from an online search of whale species, he believes it to be a minke whale.
The whale is beached along MacDonald’s Shore, but it is near a point some distance away from the MacDonald’s Shore beach access.
MacWilliams said its location around the point makes it difficult to access on foot or by machine.
Dave MacEwen, marine fisheries manager at the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, said collection and disposal is usually contracted out to a private company. He said his department was awaiting co-ordinates from Department of Fisheries and Oceans personnel.
If the whale proves difficult to access from the beach, he said, then a fishing boat might be needed to tow it to a more accessible location.
He said the Atlantic Veterinary College will also be contacted to see if it wishes to perform a necropsy to try and determine the cause of death.
