Muscat:A giant whale has been found dead on Al Ashqara Beach along Oman’s eastern coast. According to the Environment Authority, initial assessments indicate the whale likely died from suffocation due to discarded fishing nets entangled around its body, restricting its movement and breathing.
Officials stressed that this tragedy underscores the serious danger marine debris — particularly abandoned fishing equipment — poses to ocean life. The public has been urged not to dump waste into the sea.
Authorities also highlighted findings from previous studies in the UAE, where whale deaths were commonly caused by entanglement in fishing gear, plastic ingestion, and ship collisions. In a contrasting success story, a Bryde's whale discovered near Fujairah Port in December 2024 was rescued and safely released back into the sea by the Fujairah Environment Authority.
Meanwhile, Oman’s Environment Ministry has launched an investigation into the whale’s death and warned residents to avoid the beach area until further notice.
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