KKP Reminds Residents Not To Take Advantage Of Oil From Dead Whales Stranded

The whale carcass was stranded on Batu Lumbang Beach, Tabanan Regency, Bali, recently. (doc. KKP)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) reminded the public not to use oil from whales that have died stranded.

This appeal is related to residents who tried to take advantage of oil from whale carcasses that were found dead stranded in Bali waters recently.

"We are socializing the handling of protected marine biota stranded and distributing posters of protected marine biota," said Head of the Denpasar Coastal and Marine Resources Management Center (BPSPL) Permana Yudiarso in a written statement, Sunday, April 16, as reported by Antara.

The Pope is one of the country's fully protected marine biota based on Government Regulation Number 7 of 1999 concerning Plant and Animal Types and Decree of the Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Number 79 of 2018 concerning the National Action Plan for Conservation of Marine mammals.

Yudi explained that his party received reports of whale carcasses rotting with difficult body shape identified at Batu Lumbang Beach, Tabanan Regency, Bali.

"Visually, the whale is thought to be a type of Pope Bryde or Pope Edeni (Balaenoptera brydei), about 11 meters long with the condition of several bones visible," said Yudi.

Yudi explained that the handling of stranded whales was carried out by burying them according to a mutual agreement in the field. Given its large size, the whales were buried with heavy equipment assisted by the local government, the Bali Bersih Foundation and the local community on April 3.

"Before being buried, the Clean Bali Foundation took whale samples to be tested in the laboratory so that the type and cause of death would be known," he said.

In line with the policy of the Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Sakti Wahyu Trenggono, in the management of the KKP area and types of fish, it continues to synergize with the community and stakeholders, especially in providing a quick and appropriate response to handling stranded marine mammals.