Fin whales are second only in size to the blue whale and can grow up to 24 metres in length.
© Callum Lilley
The location of a 17-metre-long dead fin whale washed ashore in South Taranaki is being closely guarded to prevent poachers harvesting its bones.

First spotted on Friday morning near Opunake, the whale is now in an advanced state of decay and the Department of Conservation is warning beach goers to steer clear.

Though it's not saying where to steer clear from.

Whale bone is sacred to Maori and whale carcasses become the property of DOC once washed ashore, however whale bones are often gifted to local iwi.

DOC senior biodiversity ranger Callum Lilley said DOC had been in contact with Ngati Kahumate and Taranaki iwi but the sub-adult fin whale was currently a health hazard to be near.

"It probably died a long way offshore and currents and onshore winds have brought it in," he said.

"There were no obvious injuries but it can be hard to see once they reach this level of decay."

Lilley said DOC couldn't be sure about the cause of death but a number of sharks had taken chunks of its side, indicating it had been dead at sea for a long time.

"I would encourage people to stay clear due to environmental and biological hazards," he said.

"Blood, oils and other materials are oozing out and being spread around by the tide.

"These fluids are laden with viruses and bacteria and the oils are really hard to remove from shoes and clothing."

Lilley said it was especially important children and pets didn't come in contact with any of the material coming from the whale.

"Given the remote location we think the best course of action is to leave it to nature," he said.

A 17-metre-long dead fin whale washed up near Opunake over the weekend.
© Callum LilleyA 17-metre-long dead fin whale washed up near Opunake over the weekend.
Lilley warned opportunistic whale-bone hunters that removing whale bones was an offence under the Marine Mammals Protection Act and could carry penalties of up to six months imprisonment or a $250,000 fine.

He said the main migration route between Antarctica and the tropics, where large whales travel to breed this time of year, was well offshore and the whale was likely heading north.

Not to be confused with humpback whales which were spotted a week ago in the same area, fin whales are second in size only to the blue whale and can grow up to 24 metres in length.

This is the third dead fin whale found on Taranaki beaches and follows one being washed ashore on Ohawe Beach in 2012. Prior to that one was washed up at the end of Bayley Rd in 1918.

Source: Taranaki Daily News