Western Newfoundland town’s eBay auction of dead sperm whale taken down

CAPE ST. GEORGE, N.L. – The mayor of a western Newfoundland town says his efforts to remove a dead sperm whale have hit a snag.

Peter Fenwick was trying to sell the recently deceased whale on eBay in an effort to have it removed from the community’s rocky shore.

But Fenwick says the website has taken down the auction because it violates their policies.

Fenwick says he’d happily give the 12-metre whale away for free and is hoping the online exposure of the eBay ad will garner some interest.

The whale is beached in an area known as Marches Point near houses and a fishing station — but Fenwick says residents aren’t interested in it becoming a permanent fixture.

Fenwick says disposing the carcass is the responsibility of the town and both the provincial and federal governments haven’t offered any help.

He says he received a call from the federal Environment Department earlier in the day saying the sale of the whale could violate environmental regulations.

Environment Canada did not immediately return a request for comment.