SANDY HOOK, N.J. — A dead minke whale was discovered floating in the Lower Bay/Raritan Bay area on Thursday morning, prompting efforts by local and federal agencies to track its movement. The whale, estimated to be 16 to 18 feet long, was first reported by the U.S. Coast Guard, who then alerted marine mammal stranding organizations, including the Marine Mammal Stranding Center and Atlantic Marine Conservation Society.
Officers from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC) were able to locate the whale and attach a tracking device to monitor its drift. The whale is expected to wash ashore as early as Thursday evening, with officials predicting it could land near Sandy Hook, N.J.
“We are planning for a response when it lands,” the Marine Mammal Stranding Center said in a statement posted on social media. The center noted that coordination with NOAA Fisheries and local officials will follow once the whale reaches the shore, to assess the best course of action for examining the animal.
The cause of the whale’s death remains unknown at this time. Minke whales, which are among the smaller species of baleen whales, are occasionally found in the waters off New Jersey, but strandings and deaths are not uncommon.
Authorities will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as necessary.
