ISLANDERS have called for a beach to be closed ahead of the Easter weekend as a dead whale decomposes at a popular swimming spot.
A sperm whale died earlier this week after it became stranded in early March in Ettrick Bay near the Isle of Bute.
The whale was spotted resting in the bay's shallow water, and plans were formulated in case the animal became fully stranded. However, it died of natural causes.
Now, locals have raised concerns as the corpse has been left on the beach for almost a week.
The whale carcass could be left to naturally decompose if, for example, there is limited access to the beach. However, Argyll and Bute Council has said it is aware of the whale's status and is liaising with landowners "to gain access to the shore".
Dog owners have been warned to keep their pets on leads to avoid them digesting decomposing "blubber" while walking on the beach.
Several locals have shared images of the beach and whale, commenting on the "foul smell" as well as the dangers for swimmers.
There has also been calls to close the beach as the island expects to welcome visitors from across the UK for Easter weekend.
One woman wrote on the island's Facebook page on Sunday: "I'm afraid the fact that the decomposing mammal is still in Ettrick Bay will mean it is undesirable for anyone to bathe/swim in the water this coming Easter weekend.
"There should at least be a warning sign to inform tourists."
One person replied: "You'd think SEPA would be closing the beach. Shocking that's not been done."
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Another wrote, "the smell is unbelievable", while another said they had reported the body to environmental health as the "smell is rancid".
SEPA have been contacted for comment.
A spokesperson for Argyll and Bute Council said: “We are aware that the whale’s body has returned to the shore. We are moving as quickly as possible with the sad job of disposing of it appropriately. This is complex process as the whale is 15.5m long and weighs over 30 tonnes.
"We have to liaise with landowners to gain access to the shore and then get the required heavy-moving equipment to the site which will also present challenges. While this is ongoing, as a precaution, please keep children and any pets away from the scene.”
It is believed the whale had swam from the south coast of Ireland to the Firth of Clyde, covering around 500km in two weeks.
The Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme has reportedly carried out a necropsy to discover more about the whale and the reasons for its stranding.
