A Dead Humpback Whale Stranded In Sampang Drowned By KKP

A dead humpback whale washed ashore (Photo via KKP)

JAKARTA - A 15-meter humpback whale was stranded in the waters of Dharma Camplong Village, Sampang, East Java at the end of March. This whale was eventually drowned.

The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) through the Technical Implementation Unit (UPT) of the Directorate General of Marine Spatial Management (Ditjen PRL), namely the Center for Coastal and Marine Resources Management (BPSPL) Denpasar Working Area (Wilker) East Java, as soon as they received information, immediately handled whale carcasses together officers and the local community.

Head of BPSPL Denpasar Permana Yudiarso explained that initially the information on the stranded whale suspected to be a Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) was received by the Head of Pokmaswas Dharma Bahari Camplong from a fisherman who was lifting nets into the sea at around 06.00 WIB, last March 30 and reported it to the Integrated Marine Security Post officer (Kamladu) Camplong, Sampang Regency.

The Commander of the Post (Danpos) of Kamladu Camplong coordinated with the Camplong District Leadership Meeting (Muspika), Sampang Regency Polairud, Sampang Koramil, Camplong Police, Dharma Bahari Pokmaswas, and fishermen to take appropriate action.

Pokmaswas Dharma Bahari shared knowledge because of its experience in participating in technical guidance on handling stranded marine mammals organized by the Technical Implementation Unit of the Probolinggo KP3K Technical Training. Considering the condition of the carcass that had undergone advanced decomposition, its large size, and limited facilities and infrastructure, the whale carcass was pulled out and sunk into the middle of the sea.

"Initially the whale carcass was found at a distance of about 1 mile from the beach of Camplong Village with a depth of 7 meters. Then at 15.00 WIB, the whale carcass was pulled by ship to the middle of the Madura Strait for 3 miles and sunk with a ballast at the coordinates of 07° 15' 09" South Latitude and 113° 20' 32" East Longitude or -7.25250000, 113.34222222 at a depth of 25 meters so that it does not The current will be carried back to the beach and it is hoped that the whale carcasses will not interfere with fishing activities," Yudi explained, quoted from the ministry's official website, Thursday, April 7.

The team consisting of the East Java Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Service, BPSPL Denpasar Wilker East Java, Danposkamladu Camplong, and Pokmaswas Dharma Bahari carried out monitoring again at the location where the whale was drowned in the afternoon and the condition of the whale carcass was still firmly stuck in its anchor.

"The Camplong Poskamladu team and the Dharma Bahari Camplong Pokmaswas will carry out monitoring until the whale carcass is fully decomposed," concluded Yudi.