Death of Whale that Washed up in Barnegat Light May Have Been Due to Vessel Strike

Death of whale that washed up in Barnegat Light may have been due to vessel strike

The death of a fin whale that washed ashore Friday afternoon on Long Beach Island may have been due to a vessel strike, the Marine Mammal Stranding Center said.

Vessel Strike Suspected In LBI Whale Death

BARNEGAT LIGHT — A necropsy performed on a deceased fin whale that washed ashore in Barnegat Light confirmed the animal was a young male measuring 51 feet, 1.5 inches long and weighing an estimated 25 tons. The Marine Mammal Stranding Center, assisted by Cornell University, conducted the examination after the whale was discovered on the beach February 20. Preliminary findings revealed blunt force trauma on the left side of the whale’s body, inju…