LBI: On Sunday October 1st the Marine Mammal Stranding Center responded to an approximately 22-foot long minke whale reported stranded in shallow water on the northwest side of Conklin Island, Barnegat Bay. With the assistance of the NJ State Police Marine Unit and Sea Tow, MMSC’s stranding team was able to free the whale from the sandbar it was stranded on. The whale was observed swimming towards the open water of the channel at sunset.
The following morning on Monday October 2nd, the MMSC was back on scene with the assistance of the NJ State Police after the whale was found restranded by the Ocean County Mosquito Commission. The whale was in two feet of water on the southwest side of Clam Island. MMSC’s Stranding Coordinator was able to walk the whale ¾ mile into deeper water. Once in deeper water, the whale was observed resting at the surface, lowering its tail to anchor itself in position. The whale’s behavior and position were observed until dusk.
On Tuesday morning October 3rd, the MMSC returned to the scene with New Jersey Fish and Wildlife Conservation Officers to locate the animal. The whale was observed resting in shallow water in the same area. As the tide started to come in, the whale began moving out of the shallows and swam northwest towards the middle of the bay. The US Coast Guard assisted MMSC with monitoring the whale. The last sighting of the minke whale was just before dusk, swimming approximately one mile from the inlet on an outgoing tide.
The Marine Mammal Standing Center continues to monitor the situation and will provide updates as available. We ask that the public please call MMSC’s 24-hour hotline (609) 266-0538 with any sightings. Minke whales are a Federally protected species according to the Marine Mammal Protection Act. We are reminding the public to remain at least 300 feet away from the whale, and not attempt to intervene in any way as doing so can cause harm to both the whale and the public. Thank you to the NJ State Police Marine Unit, NJ Fish and Wildlife Conservation Officers, Sea Tow, US Coast Guard, and the Ocean County Mosquito Commission for your ongoing assistance.

Courtesy of Marine Mammal Stranding Center