Statement by Acting Premier
 Honourable Kye M. Rymer

Update on the Whale Stranding On Anegada
July 5, 2022

A pleasant good day to all the people of the Virgin Islands.  It is my pleasure to provide you, the public, with an update on the Whale Stranding event within our waters.

On Virgin Islands Day, July 4, a team of government officials and I travelled to Pelican Point, Anegada.  The delegation included, Minister for Natural Resources and Labour, Honourable Melvin Turnbull; Junior Minister for Trade, Honourable Shereen Flax-Charles, Marine Biologists from the Environment and Climate Change unit in the Ministry of Natural Resources and Labour, Lead Marine Biologist, Mr. Mervin Hastings and Marine Biologist Ms. Argel Horton, to assess the area where dozens of whales were stranded and died.

While on site, we consulted with some of the Anegada fishermen, a team from Beyond the Reef and the Association of Reef Keepers (ARK) and determined that the best way forward, in the removal of the whale carcasses, would be two-fold:

Out to Sea

The estimated 10-15 whales around the conch shell mounts, and within the mangroves will be pulled out to sea (beyond the reef) for disposal.

Burial

Meanwhile the remaining carcasses beached on the sandy shore will be buried.

Heavy equipment has already been deployed and the works in the interment has commenced.

The Government of the Virgin Islands continues to acknowledge the support of the cross sectional collaborations, with our Non-Government agencies:

Mr. Christopher Juerdin and his team at Beyond the Reef; Dr. Shannon Gore and her team from the Association of Reef Keepers (ARK); our local fishermen; and all other volunteers such as the BVI Rotary family, who came out. This work would have been impossible without your help and combined resources. 

I also want to acknowledge the Governor for visiting the site.

I thank you.