Baby Humpback Whale Dies in Suspected Propeller Strike Off New Jersey Coast
A young humpback whale, approximately 29 feet in length, died from wounds sustained in a suspected propeller strike while stranded off Long Beach Island, New Jersey, according to the Marine Mammal Stranding Center. The whale had been struggling in shallow waters for at least two nights before passing away. The Marine Mammal Stranding Center (MMSC) reported that the animal was first spotted off the coast of Holgate around 3 p.m. on Friday, and its condition was described as poor, with injuries indicative of a previous collision with a vessel’s propeller.
Marine research group Gotham Whale had also reported seeing the whale struggling to hunt in waters near Rockaway. The group noted that the whale’s behavior suggested distress, and it was evident that the injury had significantly impacted its ability to survive in the wild. The MMSC described how they were working to tow the young whale on Tuesday after it had sadly died.
“The whale was identified as a young humpback when they eventually reached it,” the press release stated. “It was lethargic and in very thin body condition, with wounds consistent with a previous propeller strike present across both the left and right dorsal sides of the whale.”
Despite efforts by the stranding center and its partners, including the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society and NJ Fish and Wildlife Conservation Officers, the whale’s prognosis was deemed extremely poor, and it was unlikely to survive. “Sedatives were administered to keep the animal comfortable until operations could resume safely the following daytime low tide,” the center explained.
Monitoring continued into the night, with the team confirming that the animal had passed away before the morning. “Our entire team is deeply saddened by every deceased animal that we investigate, but the ones that hit the hardest are animals like this young whale who never got the chance to contribute to their species,” the press release concluded.
The incident has sparked discussions on the need for increased measures to protect marine life from human activity, particularly with regard to maritime traffic and vessel safety. Conservationists have called for more strict regulations to prevent such tragic events from occurring in the future.