The acquaculture sector is doing its bit to save the whales on the West Coast again on Friday, after a handful of rescued mammals re-beached near Macquarie Harbour.
Tassal boats took 37 pilot whales on slings out to sea off Ocean Beach on Thursday.
“It’s just nice to see that West Coast spirit, that Tasmanian spirit, everybody just gets their hands on and gets involved,” said worker Brad Martin.
The rest of the 230-strong pod didn’t survive, as pounding surf made it impossible for them to be re-floated where they lay.
“It can be emotional, pilot whales are very sensitive beings, we can often hear them calling and communicating to each other,” said wildlife biologist Sam Thalman, who was among those on the scene.
“We do know we have success in these efforts, and that is what keeps driving us.”
The carcasses will be towed out to sea after authorities weighed factors like the risk of increased shark activity if they were left to rot.
Three survivors remained on Ocean Beach as of Friday morning and the Environment Department has requested Tassal’s help in rescuing them.
It’s believed other whales are still in the harbour and may need relocation.
Image: Monte Bovill/ABC
