NEW DELHI: An endangered 44-foot-long whale died after apparently being struck by a 19-deck cruise ship into the East River in Brooklyn Harbor on Saturday morning, and it is impossible to determine how long the deceased mammal was dragged by the boat, according to marine experts.
According to a Recent York Post report, an adult female Sei whale was found while the MSC Meraviglia was moored in port, an MSC cruises spokesman confirmed. The colossal Meraviglia, a ship that came to the aid of 24 Cuban migrants in distress off the coast of Florida last year, boasts an impressive gross tonnage of 171,600 tons and a height of 214 feet.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOOO) Fisheries spokeswoman Andrea Gomez said the distressed whale was pulled from the ship and transported to Sandy Hook, Recent Jersey, for an autopsy on Tuesday, saying it was too early to determine whether the whale was already dead before impact. .
Atlantic Marine Conservation Society founder and chief scientist Rob DiGiovanni said it was more than likely that “interaction with the ship contributed to her death.”
“It looks like she was eating,” DiGiovanni added, pointing out that she was a hearty whale with relatively fresh food in her stomach, the Recent York Post reported.
The exact time and location of the whale collision remain unknown, but according to NOAA, sei whales usually live in deeper waters, away from shore.
DiGiovanni revealed that the whale’s body was “quite decomposed,” making it challenging for experts to determine the exact time of its death. The decomposition process of whale carcasses can be accelerated by several days when water temperatures are higher than usual.
According to DiGiovanni, whale strikes by ships are not uncommon, but it is challenging to determine the frequency of such incidents because whales can sink to the bottom of the ocean after being struck. The size of cruise ships can make it challenging for staff and guests to notice a whale strike, making even the world’s largest mammal look like an ant.
These ship strikes may be contributing to the unusual mortality event in the Recent York Bight Apex, which covers the waters from Fire Island to Manasquan Inlet in Recent Jersey.
Since 2016, deaths of humpback, mackey and right whales in the North Atlantic have increased from one to three per year to 12 to 14 per year, DiGiovanni added.
The surge in whale numbers is an unfortunate consequence of the increasing number of whales visiting waters off Recent York each year. Although some whales remain in the area year-round, the East River population increases during the spring months.
DiGiovanni urges boaters to operate caution in the waters, stating, “We are already starting to see an boost in whale sightings, so we urge boaters to operate caution in the waters.” It encourages ship captains to adopt a “Snail-paced: Children at Play” mentality when sailing the high seas.
NOAA said: “Marinas navigating off the U.S. East Coast are encouraged to reduce vessel speed, remain vigilant, and report any sightings of right whales and any dead, injured, or entangled whales.”
Sei whales are among the largest whale species and are internationally protected, and ship strikes constitute one of the most essential threats to their degenerating population.
According to a Recent York Post report, an adult female Sei whale was found while the MSC Meraviglia was moored in port, an MSC cruises spokesman confirmed. The colossal Meraviglia, a ship that came to the aid of 24 Cuban migrants in distress off the coast of Florida last year, boasts an impressive gross tonnage of 171,600 tons and a height of 214 feet.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOOO) Fisheries spokeswoman Andrea Gomez said the distressed whale was pulled from the ship and transported to Sandy Hook, Recent Jersey, for an autopsy on Tuesday, saying it was too early to determine whether the whale was already dead before impact. .
Atlantic Marine Conservation Society founder and chief scientist Rob DiGiovanni said it was more than likely that “interaction with the ship contributed to her death.”
“It looks like she was eating,” DiGiovanni added, pointing out that she was a hearty whale with relatively fresh food in her stomach, the Recent York Post reported.
The exact time and location of the whale collision remain unknown, but according to NOAA, sei whales usually live in deeper waters, away from shore.
DiGiovanni revealed that the whale’s body was “quite decomposed,” making it challenging for experts to determine the exact time of its death. The decomposition process of whale carcasses can be accelerated by several days when water temperatures are higher than usual.
According to DiGiovanni, whale strikes by ships are not uncommon, but it is challenging to determine the frequency of such incidents because whales can sink to the bottom of the ocean after being struck. The size of cruise ships can make it challenging for staff and guests to notice a whale strike, making even the world’s largest mammal look like an ant.
These ship strikes may be contributing to the unusual mortality event in the Recent York Bight Apex, which covers the waters from Fire Island to Manasquan Inlet in Recent Jersey.
Since 2016, deaths of humpback, mackey and right whales in the North Atlantic have increased from one to three per year to 12 to 14 per year, DiGiovanni added.
The surge in whale numbers is an unfortunate consequence of the increasing number of whales visiting waters off Recent York each year. Although some whales remain in the area year-round, the East River population increases during the spring months.
DiGiovanni urges boaters to operate caution in the waters, stating, “We are already starting to see an boost in whale sightings, so we urge boaters to operate caution in the waters.” It encourages ship captains to adopt a “Snail-paced: Children at Play” mentality when sailing the high seas.
NOAA said: “Marinas navigating off the U.S. East Coast are encouraged to reduce vessel speed, remain vigilant, and report any sightings of right whales and any dead, injured, or entangled whales.”
Sei whales are among the largest whale species and are internationally protected, and ship strikes constitute one of the most essential threats to their degenerating population.
