Authorities urge the public to keep their distance as investigators assess the scene
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Key Takeaways
- A 40-foot sei whale was found dead near Long Island and later washed ashore on a New York City beach
- Experts are conducting a necropsy to investigate the death and potential links to East Coast marine mammal deaths
- Whales, dolphins and porpoises are protected by law, and the public is urged to maintain a 150-foot distance
A massive whale that washed ashore on a New York City beach is drawing renewed attention to a recent cluster of marine mammal deaths along the East Coast.
According to a statement shared on Facebook from the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society (AMSEAS) on Thursday, March 26, the sei whale had first been identified on March 24, when an aerial survey team reported a carcass drifting roughly 15 miles south of Long Island.
On March 26, AMSEAS confirmed it was the same whale, estimated to be roughly 40 feet. “AMSEAS is currently working with local authorities at [the] New York City Department of Parks & Recreation, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, and NOAA Fisheries New England/Mid-Atlantic to secure and monitor the animal,” read the post.
The statement noted that the rescue team is coordinating a necropsy examination, scheduled for Friday, March 27. AMSEAS also highlighted that whales, dolphins and porpoises are protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act, which forbids the wild animals from being touched, fed or harmed and can result in legal disciplinary actions…