Necropsy to be performed on whale that died after collision with boat in Barnegat Bay

Whale dies after colliding with boat off Barnegat Bay, New Jersey

Wildlife officials are investigating the death of a whale that died after it was struck by a boat off the coast of New Jersey.

BARNEGAT BAY, N.J. - A collision between a boat and a 20-foot minke whale in Barnegat Bay has sparked an investigation by the Marine Mammal Stranding Center. 

The incident, which occurred near the inlet just north of Long Beach Island, has drawn national attention as videos of the encounter circulate widely.

What we know:

The collision happened yesterday afternoon around 3:40 p.m. in Barnegat Bay. The Marine Mammal Stranding Center received the first call about the whale in the bay at 2:45 p.m., followed by a report of the collision nearly an hour later. 

The whale died around 5 p.m., just before the center's team arrived, said Jay Pagel, training coordinator with the center.

The deceased minke whale was spotted near the area of the collision Monday morning, before a scheduled necropsy.

Cell phone video captured the moment the boat and whale collided, nearly capsizing the boat and sending a passenger on the back of the boat into the water. The whale appears to swim away. 

What we don't know:

The exact cause of the whale's death remains unclear. Officials say it's possible that an underlying medical issue may have contributed to why the whale ended up in a shallow bay, as the specifies tends to spend most of their time offshore. 

A necropsy is scheduled for Monday to help determine the cause.

What they're saying:

"We had some mixed reports, some were saying the animal struck the vessels and some others were stating just the opposite that the vessels struck the animal," Jay Pagel said. "Although the video seemed to support the animal collided with the boat." 

Pagel also emphasized the importance of maintaining a safe distance from marine life while boating.  

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Whale dies after getting hit by boat, knocking passenger overboard in Barnegat Bay

A day on the water took a scary turn when a boat collided with a whale at the Jersey Shore, nearly capsizing and fatally injuring the whale.

"If you happen to come across an animal on the water and you happen to be in the area try not to approach them within 150 feet. If they do approach you it’s best to drop it into neutral until the animal passes by," Pagel said.

What's next:

The whale's remains will be towed to a nearby state park tomorrow morning for a necropsy. Preliminary findings are expected soon, but final results could take weeks or months as test results are processed. 

Meanwhile, a law enforcement investigation is also underway to gather more details about the incident.