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Endangered Fin Whale Fatally Struck by Ship in Tacoma
27 Aug
Summary
- An adult female fin whale was struck by a vessel and found dead.
- Fin whales are federally endangered under the U.S. Endangered Species Act.
- Officials conducted a necropsy to determine the cause of death.
An adult female fin whale, measuring 67 feet in length, was discovered deceased on the bow of a ship in the Port of Tacoma on Monday morning. Officials have confirmed that the whale was alive when it was struck by the vessel.
Fin whales are designated as federally endangered under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife noted that ship strikes are an escalating cause of mortality for these large marine mammals, largely due to increased shipping volume and speed.
Following the discovery, the whale carcass was towed to McNeil Island for a necropsy to ascertain the exact cause of death. Experts will analyze the findings to develop strategies for mitigating risks to whales. The whale's remains will be left at the site to decompose naturally, returning nutrients to the ecosystem.
The public encountering stranded marine mammals is advised to keep their distance and report such incidents immediately to the West Coast Marine Mammal Stranding Network.
