Officials: Whale carcass found in New Jersey, likely hit by ship

Marine Animal Welfare officials say the latest whale found dead on the New Jersey coastline was apparently attacked by a ship.

The Marine Mammal Stranding Center said preliminary results of an autopsy on a humpback whale that washed up in Brigantine’s North End natural area on Thursday showed the animal had “blunt trauma consistent with a ship attack.” shows.

“Injuries and bleeding were found along the head, chest, right side and pectoral fin,” the center said in a statement. “These findings will be confirmed through laboratory analysis in the coming weeks.”

The whale was a 32-foot-7-inch female, weighed an estimated 12 tons and was apparently in good condition, judging by the thickness of its blubber, the center said.

“The whale’s stomach was full of partially digested fish and there was fecal matter in the intestine, indicating the whale was actively feeding prior to these injuries,” the center said. .

“Vehicle collisions and entanglement in fishing gear are the greatest known human threats to whales of all species,” the center said. “There has been speculation as to whether these whale deaths are related to wind energy development, but at this time no whale deaths have been attributed to offshore wind activity.”

just north of brigantine Atlantic CityOf the seven whale deaths in just over a month in New Jersey, two whale carcasses have been seen on beaches in recent weeks. New York.

Some lawmakers are calling for a temporary moratorium on subsea preparation work for offshore wind projects in two states. The governor of New Jersey said he disagrees with the idea. Most of New Jersey’s environmental groups called the fatality’s connection to offshore wind projects “baseless and premature.”

The center also said that the waters off New Jersey are now home to many large whales, likely attracted by the small fish they eat, likely attracting stripers and stripers. advised sailors to proceed slowly (less than 10 knots) and watch out for whales.