Plans continued to be made yesterday to remove a rotting sperm whale carcass from a Kahuku shoreline.

Heavy-equipment operators have been contacted and gear is being collected in anticipation of the removal, which is not yet set, said David Schofield, National Oceanic and Atmosphere Administration marine mammal response coordinator.

"It's taken longer than we wanted," Schofield said, adding that precautions must be taken to protect the environment. "What we can't have happen is have a big piece of equipment go out on the rocks and end up falling into the water."

The whale carcass was first reported June 29 about 12 miles off Kane'ohe and ended up on the shore about a mile east of Kahuku Point in early July.

Other equipment such as cargo nets and pollution booms are also being collected for the project, he said.

"We're still in the watching and waiting and looking at all the options stage," Schofield said.