Whale watchers ignoring safety signs at 'very dangerous' beach, mayor says
Tourists often put themselves in danger being so close to water, said Verna Hayward
The mayor of a small community on Newfoundland's southern Avalon Peninsula is preaching safety warnings as she says whale watchers are getting dangerously close to the water's edge at a local beach.
Tourists and residents have flocked to St. Vincent's beach, located in the community of St. Vincent's-St. Stephen's-Peters River, thanks to three rolls of capelin and whales feeding in the area.
But Mayor Verna Hayward told CBC News that the ocean is very deep next to the shore, and that tourists seem to be disregarding numerous safety signs by parking themselves within feet of the water and sitting and standing on sandbanks.
"People just jump out of their cars and bolt. Run for the beach, run for the whales," Hayward said.
"Common sense should prevail, but it doesn't."
Hayward said people are often neglecting just how deep the water is, especially at its deepest point — known as the gut — which connects a large pond to the ocean.
She said the town has seen injuries as well as fatalities at the gut over the years.
"If a huge humpback whale is near the shoreline, that tells you that it's very, very deep," she said.
"Water is very dangerous, sand is moving all the time. It's very dangerous."
Hayward said the town is also concerned with parked vehicles taking up both sides of the town's road for long distances down the beach. She fears what could happen if an emergency vehicle wasn't able to make it through the path of cars.
The town is working on more options to make warnings more prevalent, but she said the town can't police the beach on its own. They've contacted provincial public safety officials for guidance.
"Our biggest concern is safety," she said. "Be safe. We do not want a tragedy."
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With files from Paula Gale
