A dead whale discovered on the bow of a container ship at a South Jersey port has sparked a federal investigation.
The whale was spotted Sunday night on a ship docked at the Gloucester Marine Terminal in Gloucester City, along the Delaware River near the Walt Whitman Bridge. The U.S. Coast Guard reported the sighting after the vessel arrived at the port.
Wildlife experts believe it’s a fin whale—an endangered species. The whale measured in at 25 to 30 feet long, indicating it was not a fully grown adult. Fin whales are the second-largest animals on Earth. They thrive in the waters off New Jersey, New York, and the Mid-Atlantic.
The Marine Mammal Stranding Center, rescue and research organization based in Brigantine, responded to the scene and began coordinating efforts to remove the carcass. The whale is being towed to a location so scientists can perform a necropsy.
The cause of death has not yet been determined, but it’s been noted that ship strikes are a common threat to large whales, especially in heavily trafficked shipping corridors like the Gloucester Marine Terminal. Fin whales also face risks from fishing gear entanglements, climate change, and ocean noise pollution.
Whale deaths along the East Coast have drawn increased attention and political debate in recent years. Updates are expected once the examination is complete.
The New Jersey Digest is a new jersey magazine that has chronicled daily life in the Garden State for over 10 years.