Boat Collision with Whale near Jersey Shore
A boat collided with a whale on Saturday afternoon off the Jersey Shore, resulting in the death of a 20-foot animal and one passenger being thrown overboard.
Video footage from social media captured the chaotic moment as the boat was tossed in Barnegat Bay, New Jersey, while the whale, identified as a minke, appeared to swim away sluggishly afterwards.
Witnesses could be heard reacting in shock, saying things like “Oh my God, they’re coming!” and “Ah, that guy!” This shows the intensity of the incident.
According to officials, the individual who fell overboard is believed to be safe, as reported by CBS News.
The Marine Mammal Stranding Center noted they received a warning about whale sightings around 2:45 p.m. on Saturday. Shortly after, reports of a collision came in around 3:40 p.m., as informed by state police.
Unfortunately, the whale was later discovered deceased in some shallow waters outside the main channel. Its body will be transported to a nearby state park due to necrosis, as stated by the center.
Authorities are advising boaters to maintain a distance of at least 150 feet from any whale remains during this period for safety reasons.
In a related note, earlier this year, there was a bizarre incident where a humpback whale apparently swallowed a man in a kayak off the Chilean coast, though he managed to escape shortly afterward.
As of now, there hasn’t been a response from the Marine Mammal Crossing Center, the U.S. Coast Guard, or New Jersey State Police marine units regarding this latest event.
