Coast KZN

State of the Coast: KZN
State of the Coast: KZN

State of the Coast: KwaZulu-Natal Chapter 1: Introduction & Background Chapter 2: Overarching Drivers Chapter 3: Climate Variability
Chapter 4: Coastal Environment Chapter 5: Estuarine Environment Chapter 6: Marine Environment Chapter 7: Human Environment Chapter 8: Economic Environment
Chapter 9: Governance Environment Chapter 10: Conclusions
The Profile of the KZN Coast
The Profile of the KZN Coast

Ugu Lwethu- Our Coast Defining the Coastal Zone The Physical and Coastal Environment Coastal and Marine Ecosystems
Coastal and Marine Species Migrations The Human Dimension Socio-Economic Uses of the Coast Commercial Resource Uses
Pressures and Threats Management of the Coastal and Marine Environments Understanding our Coast
Coastal access
Coastal access

Access RoutesBoat Launch SitesThe Human DimensionCoastal Access: Stats & Facts
Estuaries
Estuaries

What is an Estuary? Know your Estuaries Estuary Health and Conservation KZN Estuary Observer Programme
Historical Time Series Estuary Mouth Status Sand Mining
Recreation
Recreation

Fish TaggingAccess RoutesBlue Flag Beaches
Coastal risk and vulnerability
Coastal risk and vulnerability

Coastal Risk LinesExtreme EventsCoastal ErosionKZN Coastal Vulnerability IndexPollution
Coastal issues
Coastal issues

PollutionSand MiningCoastal ErosionNurdlesUPL Chemical Spill
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30 Oct 2018

UPDATE: 20 tonne whale carcass moves south to Umhlanga

Amy Jenkins (North Coast Courier) Picture: The whale washed ashore a secluded beach. Photo: Luke Patterson.

“ The whale is now between the Umhlanga pier and the lighthouse. “

The carcass of a 15 metre adult Humpback whale, which washed ashore on a secluded beach near Umdloti on Monday afternoon, has now moved south towards Umhlanga. The massive creature was originally spotted near the Tugela River mouth on Sunday morning, before floating inshore towards Westbrook.

After Specialised Rescue Unit, together with NSRI Ballito, towed the carcass out to sea, strong onshore winds blew it back to shore, eventually resting on the rocks at Peace Cottage between Umdloti and Umhlanga.

The whale carcass was towed out to sea on Sunday, but onshore winds pushed it back to the shore. Photo: Specialised Rescue Duty Crew.

Responsibility for its removal was then passed on to the eThekwini municipality, with the best option being for them to chop the carcass up and remove the pieces. However, on Monday afternoon, the inshore current was enough to move the whale further south towards Bronze beach, eventually coming in between the Umhlanga pier and the lighthouse.

Senior Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife marine ecologist Dr Jennifer Olbers, who is assisting, said the whale will most likely have to be cut up. “We cannot get boats out in these conditions, so we can do nothing but wait for it to wash up on to the shore,” said Dr Olbers.  “It is about knee deep and has been there for hours. It’s already in so many pieces so towing it out now will be almost impossible.”

The cause of death is unknown, with most of the visible injuries on the whale being shark bites.

“Because it had been nibbled on so much it is difficult to say whether it had been struck by anything,” said Specialised Rescue Unit’s Quentin Power.

Online Article