TRELAWNY, Jamaica — Members of the public are being urged to stay out of the water in the Salt Marsh area of Trelawny after sharks were spotted feeding on a whale carcass that washed ashore on Friday, prompting a cautionary advisory from the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA).
NEPA said the presence of sharks and marine mammals in Jamaican waters is a natural occurrence, and the feeding activity forms part of the normal marine ecosystem. The agency said the sighting does not, by itself, indicate an unusual environmental event.
Sharks play an important role in maintaining healthy marine ecosystems as predators and scavengers. By consuming dead or weakened animals, they help remove organic matter, recycle nutrients and support the balance of ocean environments.
NEPA also explained that the reddish colouration observed in the water is likely the result of blood and tissue released during the feeding activity and should not automatically be interpreted as pollution.
Members of the public are being advised to:
- Stay out of the water in the immediate area.
- Keep children and pets away from the shoreline.
- Avoid touching, disturbing or attempting to remove the whale carcass.
- Do not feed, capture or provoke the sharks.
- Observe the animals only from a safe distance.
- Avoid approaching the area by boat or surrounding the animals.
NEPA said the carcass may continue to attract sharks and other scavengers even after visible feeding activity has ended.
Swimming, fishing and other recreational activities in the immediate area should be avoided until authorities advise that it is safe to return.
The agency said encounters such as this provide an opportunity to better understand the role of marine wildlife and the natural processes that support ocean ecosystems.
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