Shocking discovery of decomposing whale at Berriedale – another possible victim of fishing gear

A dead whale found by a group of sea kayakers last week appears to have been another victim of fishing gear that it became entangled in.

The group included Professor Iain Baikie and retired science schoolteacher David Shand from Wick who both took photographs on their expedition along the east Caithness coastline on June 14.

Mr Shand said: "On a sea kayak trip, organised by advanced sea leader, Iain Baikie, from Dunbeath to Berriedale the group found a dead floating whale in the Traigh Tuil geo (NGR ND 133241), 2km north of Berriedale.

"It is most likely a minke whale, according to members of the Caithness and Moray Cetacean Sightings Facebook group but is difficult to be certain from the state of decomposition."

He thinks it is unlikely to be the dead humpback whale seen in Loch Fleet that had been reported in the media on May 15 as it "was in a greater state of decomposition".

"It really smells due to decomposition. Local man, Andrew Leiper, reported that it has been floating around in the area for a significant time period, getting caught in creel ropes."

The group of sea kayakers are from the three north of Scotland kayak clubs – Pentland Canoe Club, Caithness Kayak Club and East Sutherland Canoe Club. The group, which started one-and-a-half years ago, trains every Wednesday around the coast of Caithness.

Mr Shand said he has reported the matter to the Scottish Marine Animal Strandings Scheme (SMASS) based at Inverness .

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