An minke whale about six meters long collided with a pleasure boat in the Barnegat Bay, off the coast of New Jersey. The impact caused the boat to list sharply and threw one occupant overboard, although was not injuredThe scene was captured in videos recorded by witnesses in the zone.
Hours after the incident, the cetacean appeared stranded on a sandbank in shallow waters. Tidal conditions prevented the crews from Marine Mammal Stranding Center (MMSC) will come close enough for immediate assessment, and authorities plan to transfer him to a state park for a necropsy.
The crash and the images
According to the first testimonies, the animal emerged next to the hull and hit the boat, causing a passenger to fall into the water. The footage shows the whale splashing near the boat before moving away, while the occupant stays afloat without injuryTo understand more about these species and their conservation, we recommend reading about noise and threats faced by white whales.
The State Police Marine Unit had alerted at 14:45 p.m. of the presence of a cetacean in the bay. Less than an hour later, the collision was reported, which almost caused the rollover from the boat.
Online circulation a second video in which the same whale appears to make contact with a pontoon-type vessel, an indication that analyzes the MMSC within the investigation.
Search and discovery of the cetacean
The body was found in an area of shallow depth and their presence was confirmed by teams of Sea Tow that operated in the area.
The tidal conditions They forced the services to work remotely, without being able to approach less than about 30 meters, which delayed the initial inspection of the specimen. In these types of incidents, knowledge about the endangered marine fauna may be key to understanding the causes.
Authorities asked sailors to avoid the northern sector of Double Creek Channel and keep a minimum distance of 45 meters regarding the animal, both for safety and to preserve the scene until it is transported.
What the authorities are investigating
La necropsy will seek to determine whether the impact with the boat was the main cause of death or if the animal had previous injuries that put him at risk.
The stranding coordinator of the MMSC, Jay Pagel, noted that the visible body part did not show clear marks, although the visibility was very limited During the initial observations, injuries not visible to the naked eye cannot be ruled out. For more information on whale species, see the article Orcas and their social behavior.
The operational plan provides for tow the specimen to a state park as soon as logistics and tide allow, an action scheduled for the Monday morning if conditions permit.
Recommendations for sailors and regulatory framework
In the presence of cetaceans, the authorities remind reduce speed, avoid sudden changes of course and maintain prudent distances to minimize risks.
El MMSC keeps its hotline active (609) 266-0538 to report sightings, stranded animals, or risky behavior in coastal New Jersey.
In the United States, states like Massachusetts and Maine have established Speed ​​limits y exclusion zones temporary in sensitive areas, measures that seek to reduce the probability of collisions with large marine mammals.
Are these clashes common?
These incidents are not frequent, but can happen in areas with high nautical activity and the presence of cetaceans, especially during migration or feeding periods. To learn more about these migratory movements, check out recent observations of fin and albino whales.
In areas such as Strait of Gibraltar, the Galician Atlantic coast or the gulf of lion, authorities recommend taking extreme precautions to balance navigation and conservation.
Organizations such as the Ministry for Ecological Transition insist on respect distances, moderate speed and avoid intercepting the course of animals when they cross with boats.
The event of Barnegat Bay puts the spotlight back on the coexistence between recreational boating and marine wildlife: a minke whale dies after a collision, a passenger escapes unharmed and the authorities They investigate the origin of what happened while appealing to the prudence and citizen collaboration to prevent further incidents.
