Stranded Barnegat Bay Minke Whale Has Died, Necropsy Under Way

ISLAND BEACH STATE PARK, NJ — A minke whale that repeatedly stranded itself in Barnegat Bay since Sunday has died, according to the Marine Mammal Stranding Center.

The stranding center said in a brief Facebook update that the whale had died late Thursday and was towed to Island Beach State Park.

On Friday morning, the whale was transported from Island Beach State Park to a different spot on the mainland so a necropsy could be conducted.

"The necropsy is still currently in progress so we do not have any preliminary information on the examination of the whale at this time," the stranding center said Friday afternoon.

Further updates will be shared by the stranding center once the necropsy is complete and they have returned to the office.

The death comes just as onshore work is about to begin locally for the Ocean Wind 1 offshore wind farm project, though the work has not started yet at Island Beach State Park. This work is set to connect the wind energy to the onshore power grid via a substation at the former Oyster Creek power plant. Read more: Onshore Work For Ocean Wind 1 To Begin At Island Beach State Park

Some wind opponents believe that construction activities are to blame for the increase in marine mammal deaths, though no solid evidence exists to prove that, according to marine experts.

An increase in whale deaths has been tracked as an "unusual mortality event" by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration since 2016.

A rally opposing offshore wind is set for Saturday in Point Pleasant Beach. Read more: Rally Opposing Offshore Wind Set For Point Pleasant Beach