Massive whale towed to island for decomposition study

A 60- to 70-foot whale carcass discovered in the Port of Tacoma on Monday was towed to McNeil Island on Tuesday. This significant undertaking cost approximately $8,000 and involved a slow, ten-hour journey to prevent the decomposing body from breaking apart.

Marine experts will conduct a necropsy on Wednesday to determine the whale's species, age, and cause of death. While officials suspect it could be a fin whale, definitive identification awaits the examination. The whale's discovery on the bow of an Evergreen vessel on Monday morning raised questions about potential boat strikes.

After the necropsy, the whale's remains will be left to decompose naturally on McNeil Island, a site designated for such purposes. This process is expected to enrich the surrounding ecosystem with vital nutrients. Experts hope to glean valuable data about the individual whale and broader ecosystem health from this rare opportunity.

This year has seen an alarming number of whale strandings, with 30 gray whales found dead in Washington as of July 6. This figure ranks as the second-highest on record for the state, closely following the 34 strandings in 2019. Experts are concerned that warming climate conditions, leading to reduced food availability, may be contributing to whale malnutrition and increasing their vulnerability to vessel strikes and entanglement.