Public warned not to eat meat of dead Minke whale at Pelican Point

The Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources’ chief marine biologist has warned the public not to consume the meat of the whale that beached and died at Pelican Point, Walvis Bay.

John Kathena says although the Minke whale was not injured, the animal’s cause of death is not clear and it is therefore not safe to eat.

The incident attracted a lot of attention on social media, with people asking if the whale’s meat could be consumed.

“It is usually not advisable to consume the meat of an animal that just died, especially after being washed out of the sea. Sea animals beach as a result of injury or sickness, among others, although we are not sure of this one.

“In the case of uncertainty, we advise the public not to consume it,” Kathena says.

He says the whale may have lost its way and ended up on the beach.

Efforts by members of the public to push it back into the ocean on Sunday have proven futile, resulting in its death at around 07h00 on Tuesday.

Whales which previously washed ashore have been cut up and disposed of.

The female mammal was 15m long.