Ms Barclay, who lives locally and volunteers for the Organisation for the Rescue and Research of Cetaceans in Australia (ORRCA), said she started recording a video after she saw a small boat approaching the carcass.<\/p>\n
“I thought it was someone looking after the whale, and then all of a sudden they jumped on the whale and was posing with fishing rods,” she said.<\/p>\n
“I was so disgusted by their behaviour, so I videoed it and sent it to ORRCA.”<\/p>\n
The video has been shared with NSW Police by the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS).<\/p>\n
ORRCA spokesperson Pip Jacobs described it as “confronting”.<\/p>\n
“We were made aware of an interaction with the whale carcass, which showed someone standing on the whale and being too close in proximity to the carcass on the water,” Ms Jacobs said.<\/p>\n
“It is now with these authorities to investigate further and decide next steps.”<\/p>\n
Loading…<\/p>\n
Interacting with marine animals is restricted under the Biodiversity Conservation Act.<\/p>\n
In a statement, a NPWS spokesperson described the behaviour as “disrespectful and dangerous”.<\/p>\n
“We are shocked that people would think this is acceptable,” they said.<\/p>\n
“There are diseases and physical risks as well as penalties for interfering with dead whales.”<\/p>\n
Ms Barclay said the community’s distress over the whale’s death in the net had been exacerbated by the video.<\/p>\n
“We can’t have that behaviour in our community and we need to set a precedent to ensure this never happens again and that it’s not celebrated,” she said.<\/p>\n
The whale washed up on Wombarra Beach on Tuesday evening, <\/strong>and was removed by Wollongong City Council on Thursday.<\/p>\n The whale was found entangled in a shark net in Coledale. (Supplied: Khynan Gardner\/ ORRCA)<\/p>\n “For public safety, we urge residents to please stay away from the carcass site and to not enter the nearby water,” a council spokesperson said.<\/p>\n Shark net debate reignites<\/p>\n<\/p>\n