Whale carcass removed from NSW beach
People have been warned to stay out of the water at a NSW south coast beach even after a whale carcass which washed up on rocks was removed.
The juvenile humpback was found on rocks at Tathra Beach on the Sapphire Coast on Monday.
Removing the carcass was difficult because there were sharks in the area and spectators wanted to watch the operation, a Bega Valley Shire Council spokesman told AAP in a statement.
The National Parks and Wildlife Service and NSW Department of Primary Industries helped the council remove the whale on Tuesday.
The carcass will be disposed of at a licensed waste facility.
Tathra Beach will remain closed until at least Thursday although the wharf is expected to re-open later on Tuesday.
People were urged to stay out of the water until the sharks disperse, the council spokesman said.
The council expects about 35,000 humpback whales to pass the Sapphire Coast this migration season.
"Unfortunately, it is not uncommon that some young whales are unable to make the long journey to their Antarctic feeding grounds," the spokesman said.
