A whale was reported dead after encountering several boats in Burnegut Bay, New Jersey, on Saturday.
The incident involved at least two boats, one of which capsized, resulting in a passenger falling overboard. Video footage captured the tense moments, as noted by Fox Weather.
“Oh, look! They’re coming! Ah, there’s someone behind the camera,” a voice exclaimed in the video as chaos unfolded. After someone ended up in the water, she seemed to swim back to the boat’s front just as the whale struck nearby.
According to reports, the whale was identified as a 20-foot minke whale swimming in shallow waters close to the Double Creek Channel.
Unfortunately, the whale perished before rescuers could reach it. Boater John Barrett shared his experience, mentioning he had seen whales in the shallows but later noticed them in the waterway, which was only a few feet deep.
Barrett expressed concern, stating, “Some boats were trying to take photos and got too close for comfort.”
Additional videos highlight the whale’s struggle to navigate deeper waters. Reports indicated it was likely struck by a boat during the attempt. Thankfully, the woman thrown from her boat was unharmed in the incident.
“The Marine Mammal Surveillance Centre (MMSC) in Brigantine was contacted by the New Jersey State Police Marine Corps Unit regarding the whales in Burnegut Bay, near the inlet,” the article stated. “A coordinated response involved multiple agencies, including the US Coast Guard and New Jersey Fish and Wildlife Conservation.”
Yet, before MMSC’s arrival, Sea Tow officials confirmed the whale had died. Authorities later located the whale on a shallow sandbar. Due to tidal conditions, it couldn’t be reached on Saturday, but plans were made to relocate it to a state park later.
In the U.S., minke whales are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, as mentioned on the NOAA Fisheries website.
Minke whales are recognized as the smallest baleen whales in North American waters, with sleek, dark bodies that can weigh up to 20,000 pounds and reach lengths of 35 feet.
According to Britannica, rorquals are one of five specific species of baleen whales. They are commonly found in temperate zones but also inhabit tropical and subtropical regions. These whales typically feed in colder waters at higher latitudes and are seen in both coastal and oceanic areas, as indicated by NOAA Fisheries.
