MANASQUAN, NJ – Another dead humpback whale has washed up along the Jersey Shore, adding to the increasing body count that some are blaming on work being conducted to build a massive off-shore wind energy farm.
The 35-foot deceased humpback whale washed up on Monmouth beach. The Marine Mammal Stranding Center said the juvenile whale was confirmed as the same whale spotted feeding in the area on January 7th by Gotham Whale.
On Tuesday, the Marine Mammal Stranding Center will conduct a necropsy on the whale to determine its cause of death. Afterward, it will be moved to a county landfill for disposal.
“Working with Monmouth County, the decision was made to move the whale to the county landfill for examination and tissue sampling. Here, necropsy teams will have access to heavy equipment and resources that will enable a complete examination. Necropsy results take some time, and will not be available immediately, but if there are preliminary findings, we will share them as soon as they are available,” the Marine Mammal Stranding Center said today in a statement. “This is a sad event that has become too frequent lately, and our teams are tired, but we are continuing to work to help find answers about why these whales are dying. We appreciate the community’s support as we do these necropsies.”
Environmentalists are split on what is causing the deaths of so many whales. Those aligned with Governor Murphy’s plan cite a 16-year trend in whale deaths. Those opposed to the massive offshore wind farm want the federal government to investigate the off-shore activities of companies surveying the ocean floor in preparation for the project.
Politicians on both sides of the political aisle have called for a temporary halt on work offshore until a study can be conducted.