The National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority is warning citizens of Palm Bush Community in Duazon and parts adjacent the Silver Beach not to eat the Dead Sea animal assumed to be a sperm whale.

On Thursday September 21, 2023 dozens of people from the community were seen cutting through the dead whale.

In a release, NaFAA urged members of the public particularly Coastal Dwellers to immediately desist from such acts as 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,” NaFAA said in its release.

NaFAA is for now working with other relevant institutions to ensure that the carcass is removed from the beach to prevent others from consuming the dead fish.

Blessing

45-year-old Massa Kosiah, a mother of three believes this is a blessing as she has managed to collect enough of the dead sea animal for her household.

“I was here yesterday, I collected some, I think this is a gift from God, it is a blessing because things are very hard. We ate some yesterday and it taste nice,” she said.

When asked about her fear in relation to the Fisheries warning, the 45-year-old said she was not panicking as she properly boiled the dead sea animal before eating.

“Even if the animal died from sickness, once you boiled it good, its okay for eating. we are eating it, I have some on the dryer as well, I will dry and keep for eating,” she said in a happy mood.

For Amos Wilson, 26 who resides in the community, he managed to collect enough of the dead sea animal and have sold it to other community members far away from his community.

“For me, I have not eaten some but I got some which I sold to some people  across the road [in different community], but honestly I think this dead animal is safe,” he suggests.

Mark Mewon is an elder who is angry that the government response especially from the fisheries authority was too slow. he believe that had the government response promptly, the number of people who consumed the dead sea animal wouldn’t have been that huge.

“The dead sea animal was discovered, we alerted the police, sadly it took the fisheries authority almost two days before they could issue a public notice advising people not to eat it. If any thing bad happen, the government will be held responsible for responding slowly,” he said in a rather angry mood.

Meanwhile, following the release of the public notice, members of the community organized themselves to protect the area to avoid people coming in contact.