For only the second time on Long Island in a one-week span, a dead whale washed up on Long Beach on Aug. 14.
Dead Whale Washes Up on Long Beach
The Atlantic Marine Conservation Society (AMSEAS) was notified of the floating carcass of a humpback whale about three miles off of Atlantic Beach, before the carcass landed on Long Beach.
“We are working with New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, NOAA Fisheries New England/Mid-Atlantic, and local municipalities to develop plans to secure the carcass for a necropsy (animal autopsy),” the Society said in a statement. “Information gathered through this examination will include measurements and photographs, along with biological samples collected to learn more about the whale’s physiology and document any factors that may have contributed to the animal’s death.”
Dead whales have been seen on Long Island frequently this year. Just last Friday, a dead whale washed up on Smith Point Beach.
Dead Whales on Long Island This Year
In June, a partially decomposed humpback whale was found in a tidal zone in East Atlantic Beach.
A whale that had been killed by blunt force trauma from boats was found in Shinnecock Inlet earlier that month.
A dead whale washed ashore on Robert Moses Beach in June.
A humpback whale washed up on Lido Beach in January, following a sperm whale washing ashore Dec. 13 in Rockaway Beach and another humpback washing ashore on Dec. 3 in Amagansett.
“Since 2016, NOAA Fisheries has been investigating an unusual mortality event (UME) for humpback whales in the North Atlantic,” AMSEAS said on Friday following the Smith Point event. “Data from this investigation can be found on our website and viewed in this interactive map. Frequently asked questions about necropsies and how they are conducted for marine mammals are also available here on our website.”
