Mass stranding of more than 150 false killer whales at Arthur River ...

About 90 false killer whales are still alive after a pod of more than 150 became stranded on a beach in Tasmania's far north-west.

Tasmania's Department of Natural Resources and Environment confirmed the mass stranding, saying 157 false killer whales were stranded on a remote beach near Arthur River.

Brendon Clark from Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service (PWS) estimated on Wednesday morning that the animals had been stranded for between 24 to 48 hours.

Mr Clark said vets and marine biologists were on site to assess the surviving false killer whales, with attempts being made to refloat some of the whales. 

He said refloating all of them would be difficult due to restrictions imposed by the remote location.

Despite their name, false killer whales, like Orcas, are a member of the dolphin family.

Local resident Jocelyn Flint spoke to ABC Northern Tasmania Breakfast from the beach earlier on Wednesday morning.

"I'm the only person here. Most of them are all still alive," Ms Flint said.

"They're looking at me and I just can't help them."

She said the animals were on the "edge of the water".

"We've had a few big surges come in and they're all fighting.

She said her son rang her shortly after midnight with the news, after noticing the false killer whales while out shark fishing.

"They were everywhere but there was pink tape on some of them so we knew Parks [and Wildlife Service] must have known about it. Then we got up real early this morning and came back down just on daylight."

Ms Flint said it would be good if the animals could be rescued and released back to sea.

"But gee, from what I've seen before, they usually end up coming back in," Ms Flint said.

"I just wish we knew why they've done it, it's such a waste."

First mass stranding for false killer whales in 50 years

Mass strandings are not uncommon on Tasmania's west coast but Mr Clark said it was a first for false killer whales in Tasmania in 50 years.

Around 470 pilot whales stranded further south at Macquarie Harbour near Strahan in 2020 and another 200 become stranded in the same harbour in 2022.

Mr Clark said unlike those previous strandings, the remote location of Arthur River meant moving equipment needed to refloat the false killer whales in a timely manner was not possible.

"To try and refloat the animals directly back into the surf would be challenging, and then of course it would present enormous safety risks for our staff and personnel."

He said it was not known why the animals had stranded.

"The team on the ground will conducting post-mortem investigations and sampling of deceased animals in an attempt to determine a reason behind the stranding," Mr Clark said.

He said aerial assessments showed there were no other whales stranded outside of the Arthur River area.

Carcasses may be left on beach

Mr Clark said PWS was "hesitant" to bring machinery onto the beach to move the carcasses due to the remote location and Aboriginal cultural heritage sites nearby.

However, on-site teams had yet to determine the best method to dispose of the false whale carcasses.

The bushfires burning on the west coast had left Parks and Wildlife Service crews under strain.

"We're just conscious of fatigue and also ensuring that whenever we put somebody out onto a rescue or response incident that they are adequately prepared and well rested," Mr Clark said.

"If it is determined there is a need for help from the general public, a request will be made through various avenues," the department said.

"All whales are protected species, even once deceased, and it is an offence to interfere with a carcass."

"The likelihood of somebody being injured or severely impacted by an animal of that size, obviously increases when you're dealing with them in close contact."