The carcass of a whale that beached itself in Venice, Florida, last weekend was towed back out to sea this week, and the owner of a marine assistance company captured video of sharks feeding on the leviathan after towing it out to sea.
Capt. Craig Marcum, owner of Sea Tow Venice, rushed to the beach after receiving an alert that a whale was stranded off the coast on Sunday. Despite rough seas and warnings from experts that towing the whale back to sea while it was still alive could be dangerous, Marcum circled the whale in his boat and made eye contact with the mammal several times.
After the whale passed away, Marcum and his team, aided by the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office, towed the deceased whale 15 miles off the Gulf Coast during the next high tide on Tuesday. The following day, they returned to the carcass to ensure it wasn’t coming back ashore and witnessed multiple tiger sharks feeding on the whale.
Marcum’s company is partnered with the Mote Marine Laboratory, who conducted the necropsy and handled the beaching incident. Marcum expressed his admiration for the professionalism and respect shown by the laboratory team during the process.
Gretchen Lovewell of Mote Marine Laboratory described the situation as a “gut punch,” emphasizing the importance of human safety when dealing with such large animals in rough surf conditions.
Marcum stated that taking the whale back to the water was the best possible outcome after its passing, as it allowed the cycle of life to continue and provided sustenance for countless other marine creatures.
The incident serves as a reminder of the delicate balance of nature and the importance of respecting and preserving marine life.
