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Minke whale washed up on Highland beach reported to have netting in its mouth


By Louise Glen

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Minke whale washed up on Cromarty beach. Photo: Martin Cragg
Minke whale washed up on Cromarty beach. Photo: Martin Cragg

A minke whale was washed up on Cromarty beach on Saturday afternoon, with locals saying it had fishing gear or nets around its mouth.

The whale, believed to be a juvenile, had been seen almost a week before floating around the mouth of the River Conon area – and had been reported to the Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme (SMASS).

The whale was 4.14m long and was in a decomposed state, and therefore scientific inquiries would have been problematic.

Locals saw the whale, and reported to SMASS as well as sharing pictures of it on social media, many outraged at what they said was fishing gear in its mouth.

Minke whale washed up on Cromarty beach. Photo: Martin Cragg
Minke whale washed up on Cromarty beach. Photo: Martin Cragg

Nick Davison, standings co-ordinator at SMASS, said: "We have not been tasked with the organisation of the removal of the carcass, but we have taken reports about the whale.

"It was first reported over a week ago in the Conon River area. It had been seen there about 800 metres along the mouth of the river. It was dead at that time, and nothing more could be done until it finally came to rest on the shore.

"We didn't hear anything more until we received reports on Saturday, by that time it was too decomposed for investigations to be undertaken."

He continued: "It was 414cms long, and due to its length we believe it was a juvenile, as adults grow to more than 800cms.

Minke whale washed up on Cromarty beach. Photo: Martin Cragg
Minke whale washed up on Cromarty beach. Photo: Martin Cragg

"It is very possible that it died due to being caught up in nets or fishing gear, but without a proper investigation of the carcass we would not be able to determine that."

Mr Davison explained that a large number of strandings occur due to marine animals being caught in fishing gear or nets. Being caught up in fishing nets, either from creeling or after being actively caught in a net, will go on to restrict a whale's ability to feed, and can cause damage to the teeth and jaw which may lead to infection which ultimately kills the mammal.

Minke whale washed up on Cromarty beach. Photo: Martin Cragg
Minke whale washed up on Cromarty beach. Photo: Martin Cragg

"We have been shown photos where a lump of nets can be clearly seen next to the mammal. But due to the length of time the carcass was floating in the water there is no way of determining from photos whether this happened before the whale died, or after."

Mr Davison said that SMASS only get involved with a carcass after permission from both Marine Scotland and Highland Council, and on this occasion it was not tasked with managing the carcass, but it was still taking reports.

Minke whale washed up on Cromarty beach. Photo: Martin Cragg
Minke whale washed up on Cromarty beach. Photo: Martin Cragg

It is understood that Highland Council will be removing the carcass from the beach.

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