Authorities are warning against an unprecedented harvesting of a sperm whale that appeared ashore the Palm Bush community in Duazon, adjacent the Silver Beach.
It was reported that on Thursday, September 21, 2023, a dead yellowish sperm whale was seen floating from the Atlantic Ocean to the palm Bush Community, in Duazon, adjacent the Silver Beach, 22 kilometers away from Monrovia.
Dozens of residents of the Palm Bush Community and its environs, according to reports, were awakened to the discovery of a gigantic Whale on the beach early Thursday, as some locals are said to be taking their slices of the meat from the dead yellow whale for cooking.
In an interview with a local media, many of those who went over to see the dead whale were seen with cutlasses to get their share of the huge sea creature, expressing mixed reactions over its appearance on the beach.
Some eyewitnesses further narrated that the whale was first spotted floating by some kids playing along the beach, prompting excitement and help from the community dwellers, and added, “When the children called us, we all helped to drag the whale from the sea to the beach and got enough to carry now.”
But in a release issued over the weekend in Monrovia, Acting Health Minister, Norwu Howard, said the Ministry, in collaboration with the Public Health Institute of Liberia, has dispatched a team of surveillance officers to conduct examination, disinfect and establish the cause of death.
The Liberian Government at the same time reassures the public of its determination to keep the public safe, through its active surveillance system amidst global emerging disease outbreak.
According to her, the eating of the dead whale, without knowing what caused it to die, is detrimental to the health of the population, especially at a time when the Government of Liberia continues to work in the protection of its citizenry in the containment of the spread of various emerging diseases.
“Feeding on a dead fish without knowing the cause of death could be extremely harmful to the population involved. These are ways in which diseases are spread from one person to another, leading to an epidemic,” Minister Howard warned.
This, she added, that consuming of dead whale meat and blubber can cause botulism – which can cause serious symptoms like vomiting, difficulty swallowing, partial facial paralysis, and more in humans – and that marine mammal meat may contain high levels of heavy metals and toxins.
Meanwhile, the Management of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA) said the Dead Sea animal assumed to be a sperm whale is being used for consumption.
NaFAA urges members of the public, particularly Coastal Dwellers, to immediately desist from such act, as feeding on a dead fish without knowing the cause of death could be extremely harmful to the population involved.
According to then, these are ways in which diseases are spread from one person to another, leading to an epidemic.
The Management of NaFAA said it is working with other relevant institutions to ensure that the carcass is removed from the beach to prevent others from consuming the dead fish.
