BRIGANTINE, N.J. (AP) — Marine animal welfare officials say probably the most recent whale found dead on a Recent Jersey shoreline had apparently been struck by a vessel.
The Marine Mammal Stranding Center said Sunday that preliminary results of a necropsy on the humpback whale that washed up Thursday on the North End Natural Area in Brigantine indicates that the animal had “blunt trauma injuries consistent with those from a vessel strike.”
“Injuries and hemorrhaging were observed on the top and thoracic region, in addition to along the appropriate side and the pectoral flipper,” the middle said in an announcement. “These findings will probably be confirmed through laboratory evaluation in the approaching weeks.”
The whale was a 32-foot, 7-inch female estimated to weigh about 12 tons and was apparently in good condition judging by the thickness of its blubber, the middle said.
“The whale’s stomach was stuffed with partially digested fish and there was fecal matter within the intestines, indicating the whale had been actively feeding prior to those injuries,” the middle said.
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“Vessel strikes and entanglement in fishing gear are the biggest known human threats to whales of all species,” the middle said. “Although there was speculation about whether these whale deaths are linked to wind energy development, at this point no whale mortality has been attributed to offshore wind activities.”
Brigantine, just north of Atlantic City, has seen two other dead whales on its beaches in recent weeks, among the many seven whale deaths in a little bit over a month in Recent Jersey and Recent York.
Some lawmakers have called for a brief pause in ocean-floor preparation work for offshore wind projects within the two states. Recent Jersey’s governor said he doesn’t agree with that concept. Most of Recent Jersey’s environmental groups called an association between the deaths and the offshore wind work “unfounded and premature.”
The middle also said there are currently a variety of large whales in waters off Recent Jersey, likely attracted by small fish they feed on which are also attracting stripers or striped bass. Officials urged boaters to travel slowly (lower than 10 knots) and keep a watch out for whales.
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