The Umhlanga Urban Improvement Precinct (UIP) has advised visitors and residents that several beaches have closed as operations are underway to retrieve pieces of a humpback whale carcass that washed ashore.

The 10-metre-long whale had washed ashore on a section of beach between Glenashley Beach and uMhlanga Beach earlier this week.

Members of the KZN Sharks Board and the eThekwini’s Parks Department used a digger to remove the carcass, however, pieces of the whale are still floating in the ocean and washing up onto beaches.

Spokesperson for the South African Association for Marine Biological Research (SAAMBR), Ann Kunz, said it was unclear how the whale died.

“The carcass was already in an advanced stage of decomposition, which leads us to believe it had probably been dead at sea for 10 days. The closure of beaches is just a precautionary measure as there may be pieces of the whale either floating in the ocean or washing up on shore,” she said.

Kunz urged residents and visitors who come across stranded marine life to call the 24-hour line at 031 328 8222.

“We have the KZN Stranding network, through which we coordinate efforts to rescue or help in a situation like this.”

UIP spokesperson Dewet Geldenhuys said the closure of the uMhlanga beaches is a temporary measure.

“We will notify everyone once the debris is removed and when the beaches are reopened,” he said.