Dead Minke Whale Undergoes Necropsy After Collision with Boat in New Jersey’s Barnegat Bay

A minke whale, measuring approximately 20 feet in length, met a tragic end off the New Jersey coast following a violent collision with a small boat. The incident occurred in Barnegat Bay during the afternoon of Saturday, leaving the vessel precariously rocking and ejecting an individual overboard.

Footage captured on social media depicts the aftermath of the collision, displaying the motorboat heaving amidst the impact and the whale splashing close to the boat before departing. The affected individual is seen managing to stay afloat nearby.

Subsequently, the whale was discovered deceased, having come to rest on a shallow sandbar. Due to challenging tidal conditions, marine authorities were unable to approach the carcass for examination, as per the Marine Mammal Stranding Center, a non-profit organization dedicated to rescue, rehabilitation, and release efforts.

Jay Pagel, stranding coordinator at the center, commented on Sunday, “At this juncture, we possess little substantial information. The portion of the animal we managed to observe did not present any discernible wounds that were visible. However, our visibility was considerably limited.”

Pagel reported accounts suggesting the whale had pre-existing injuries based on video footage of the collision. He also pointed out a second online post allegedly showing the whale coming into contact with a pontoon boat following the initial impact.

The animal will be towed to a state park Monday morning for a necropsy, aiming to identify the cause of death.