A sea lion carcass washed ashore on a beach at Government Wharf has many local residents wondering whose jurisdiction it falls under to clean it up, if at all.
The mammal was decomposing in an area just below the parking lot on Friday morning along a stretch of beach somewhat accessible to walkers and their curious four-legged friends.
Department of Fisheries and Oceans spokesperson Lara Sloan said generally in these circumstances they let nature take its course.
“If the animal is a species at risk, DFO would likely collect tissue samples or conduct a necropsy,” she told the Chronicle in an email.
In this case however, the DFO plans to remove the sea lion, which has started to decompose, off the beach in the near future.
The town’s parks and recreation staff have removed marine mammal carcasses off the beach in the past and are aware of the current one after discussions with the Ladysmith Community Marina.
“It is a DFO jurisdiction,” said manager of operations Kevin Goldfuss. “(The marina) told me two days ago they had contacted DFO and they had it on their list and would send somebody out.”