BARNEGAT LIGHT — A large, badly decomposed whale was drifting in the surf near the northern end of Long Beach Island on Monday as authorities developed plans to recover, examine and dispose of the carcass.
The Marine Mammal Stranding Center said a boater first spotted the dead baleen whale floating about 1.5 miles offshore at 10:20 a.m. Sunday.
A U.S. Coast Guard drift analysis indicated the whale would move north and east toward land over the following 24 hours. Reports from other observers helped the center monitor its path throughout the day.
Shortly before sunset Sunday, the whale was several hundred yards off Surf City and moving north beyond the breakers, officials said.
At about 8 a.m. Monday, the carcass was reported in the surf near 11th Street in Barnegat Light. The center’s stranding coordinator spent the day tracking its movement and coordinating with local, state and federal agencies.
Officials believe the animal may be a female fin whale. It continued moving north toward the Barnegat Inlet jetty Monday.
The carcass has been heavily scavenged and is in an advanced state of decomposition, with portions beginning to separate in the surf, according to the center.
Because marine mammals are protected under federal law, members of the public should not touch or remove any part of the whale that washes ashore. Sightings should be reported immediately to the center’s 24-hour stranding hotline at 609-266-0538.
Updates will be posted at mmsc.org/mmsc-media-center
