Necropsy performed on dead whale that washed ashore in Long Beach

The whale was spotted three miles off East Atlantic Beach around 2 p.m. Monday.

News 12 Staff

Aug 15, 2023, 10:02 AM

Updated 266 days ago

Share:

A necropsy was performed Tuesday on a dead whale that washed up on shore in Long Beach.
Officials say the whale will be buried in the sand this afternoon once the necropsy is complete.
Meanwhile, Long Beach residents tell News 12 they are frustrated to see another whale wash up on the shore.
It is the second dead whale found on Long Beach this year, and the 15th in the tri-state area.
The whale was buried in the sand once the necropsy was complete.
Four days ago, a 35-foot humpback whale was found at Smith Point County Park.
Residents were quick to share their concerns with members of the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society as they arrived to perform the necropsy.
Chief scientist Robert DiGiovanni explained that we are in the midst of an unusual mortality event for large whales, who he says are frequenting our waters more because there's more food for them.
“What we are seeing as some of the leading causes of mortality for them are vessel strike and entanglement for the humpback whale, as well as for the North Atlantic right whale and then for the Minke whale we are actually seeing more of a biological process, more of an infectious disease issue,” says DiGiovanni.
When asked about whether the use of sonar could be a contributing factor, DiGiovanni said, "We have a lot of activity going on in the ocean, but what they are using for exploration is at a different frequency so it's not at the same frequency these animals would be impacted."
The necropsy pulled tissue from the whale that will undergo further testing. It could be weeks before the results are in.  


More from News 12
1:20
Pro-Palestinian rally taking place at Stony Brook train station; parking lot closed

Pro-Palestinian rally taking place at Stony Brook train station; parking lot closed

2:06
Sunny breaks this afternoon for Long Island with temperatures near 80

Sunny breaks this afternoon for Long Island with temperatures near 80

Police: Queens woman punched 71-year-old man at Esplanade of Woodmere

Police: Queens woman punched 71-year-old man at Esplanade of Woodmere

0:15
20-year-old man accused of breaking into home in Riverhead

20-year-old man accused of breaking into home in Riverhead

0:26
Riverhead police rescue 5 from boat in Peconic Bay; drone used to track boat

Riverhead police rescue 5 from boat in Peconic Bay; drone used to track boat

1:34
Flip Circus comes to Smith Haven Mall, Walt Whitman Shops

Flip Circus comes to Smith Haven Mall, Walt Whitman Shops

1:43
Garden Guide: These plants repel weeds and are a natural fertilizer!

Garden Guide: These plants repel weeds and are a natural fertilizer!

1:27
What's Cooking: Uncle Giuseppe's quiche lorraine

What's Cooking: Uncle Giuseppe's quiche lorraine

2:33
Family raises money to reunite Farmingdale HS sweethearts killed in Washington accident

Family raises money to reunite Farmingdale HS sweethearts killed in Washington accident

2:09
Exclusive look at field and stadium built for Cricket World Cup at Eisenhower Park

Exclusive look at field and stadium built for Cricket World Cup at Eisenhower Park

0:19
Police: Man shot during argument in Mt. Sinai

Police: Man shot during argument in Mt. Sinai

0:43
Huntington woman honored with citation for devotion to town ahead of 100th birthday

Huntington woman honored with citation for devotion to town ahead of 100th birthday

0:26
Lindenhurst man sentenced to up to 40 years behind bars for burning women with clothing iron

Lindenhurst man sentenced to up to 40 years behind bars for burning women with clothing iron

1:47
Man accused of killing NYPD detective from Massapequa Park indicted on murder charges

Man accused of killing NYPD detective from Massapequa Park indicted on murder charges

1:39
Bee on the lookout: Bees are all the buzz at Shoreham-Wading River HS

Bee on the lookout: Bees are all the buzz at Shoreham-Wading River HS

0:44
Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine addresses public safety, inflation in State of the County

Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine addresses public safety, inflation in State of the County

2:27
Huntington Town Board hosts second public hearing on walkable downtown in Melville

Huntington Town Board hosts second public hearing on walkable downtown in Melville

1:38
Sand delivered to Tobay Beach as crews work on opening access to the beach

Sand delivered to Tobay Beach as crews work on opening access to the beach

Long Island National Teacher Appreciation Week Photos

Long Island National Teacher Appreciation Week Photos

2:23
Main Street Long Island: Showcasing the best of Massapequa Park

Main Street Long Island: Showcasing the best of Massapequa Park