Overview

• The whale struck a pleasure boat in shallow Barnegat Bay on Saturday, nearly capsizing the vessel and throwing a passenger overboard who emerged unhurt.
• Teams from the Marine Mammal Stranding Center, U.S. Coast Guard, New Jersey State Police Marine Unit and Sea Tow collaborated to document the stranding and recover the carcass.
• Monday’s necropsy identified the animal as a 26-foot, 4-inch adult female in thin condition with superficial cuts and bruising on its dorsal side.
• Examiners observed an empty gastrointestinal tract and stomach lesions, and remaining tissue samples have been sent to a pathologist for further analysis.
• Responders buried the carcass on-site after the necropsy and urged boaters to keep at least 150 feet away from live whales or their remains for safety.