LONG BRANCH: The Marine Mammal Stranding Center has released the following update on the dead whale that washed up in Long Branch.

On Saturday, August 12, 2023, Marine Mammal Stranding Center (MMSC) was notified of a floating humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) carcass washing ashore in Long Branch, NJ. MMSC – with the support of Atlantic Marine Conservation Society (AMSEAS) was able to conduct a necropsy on the humpback whale. The 27 foot long male has been observed frequently in New Jersey waters and in October 2022 was seen with one side of its tail fluke severed. On August 13, a necropsy was conducted by network partners Marine Mammal Stranding Center (MMSC) and Atlantic Marine Conservation Society (AMSEAS) with municipality support from the City of Long Branch and Monmouth County services. Preliminary necropsy findings for the subadult male humpback whale revealed suspected blunt force trauma to the caudal head and neck region. The cause of death from field examination is suspected blunt force trauma consistent with a vessel strike. This suspected vessel strike is the second documented for this individual as a severed fluke blade was documented in 2022. Additional findings from the examination confirmed that the animal had been feeding on fish prior to its death. Tissues were collected and will be sent for histopathologic analysis. Following the necropsy, the whale was buried on the beach.

Special thanks to the City of Long Branch and Monmouth County Department of Public Works and Engineering providing support in recovering the carcass and during the necropsy examination. Additionally, we thank Gotham Whale for identifying this whale and its known history of sightings and injuries.

Our entire team is deeply saddened by the death of this beautiful whale that we have come to know as a resilient individual who, after enduring a devastating injury, was able to adapt to his compromised fluke and carry on.

photo Michael McKenna