The Marine Mammal Stranding Center said preliminary results from a necropsy performed on a dead humpback whale that washed ashore in Brigantine likely died from being struck by a boat.
The MMSC said more than 36 people worked on the investigation.
The 32-foot-long female whale washed ashore in Brigantine on Thursday, one of seven to wash ashore in New Jersey in the past six weeks.
“Preliminary results based on observations during the necropsy suggest that the whale suffered blunt trauma injuries consistent with those from a vessel strike,” the MMSC said in their report today. “Injuries and hemorrhaging were observed on the head and thoracic region, as well as along the right side and the pectoral flipper. These findings will be confirmed through laboratory analysis in the coming weeks. Blubber thickness indicated that the whale was in good condition. The whale’s stomach was full of partially digested fish, and there was fecal matter in the intestines, indicating the whale had been actively feeding prior to these injuries.
While some environmental groups and politicians are blaming activities associated with a massive off-shore wind farm project, the MMSC said that theory had not been proven.
“Although there has been speculation about whether these whale deaths are linked to wind energy development, at this point, no whale mortality has been attributed to offshore wind activities,” the MMSC said. “We will continue to gather data and go where the science leads us.”
Critics have charged that unusual activities off the coast of south Jersey could be interfering with marine mammals in the area. That argument has yet to be proven, but speculation has led to calls for Governor Phil Murphy to pause activities and for the Biden administration to conduct an investigation.
Last week, Governor Phil Murphy rejected that idea, saying the project would continue as planned.