Sixth whale washes up on Massachusetts’ south shore in six months; here is how you can help

PLYMOUTH, MA – Animal conservations are seeing an unprecedented number of whale strandings in our area.

According to the Whale and Dolphin Conservation, WDC received a report of a stranded humpback whale on Rexhame Beach in Marshfield the day after Christmas. The female humpback whale was an estimated 27.4 feet long and likely less than three years old. Members of WDC’s Marine Animal Rescue and Response (MARR) team responded immediately and conducted an external exam, obtained photographs for individual identification, and collected genetic and organ samples before the whale was buried before sunset.

This is the sixth large whale which has stranded in WDC’s response area since July, when a humpback whale carcass was reported floating off the coast of Massachusetts. Between August and September, WDC responded to three minke whale carcasses. In December, WDC received reports of two young humpback whale strandings.

“This number of whale strandings in our response area is unprecedented,” said Lauren Brandkamp, WDC’s Stranding Coordinator. “We are heartbroken, exhausted, and devastated by these losses, but absolutely committed to understanding the reason this is happening and basing our findings on the best available science.”

Whale and Dolphin Conservation stated that since 2016 and 2017, NOAA has declared several Unusual Mortality Events (UMEs) for large whales along the US east coast due to the increase in strandings of humpback, minke, and critically endangered North Atlantic right whales. Data from examinations indicate the primary causes of death are due to accidental entanglements in fishing gear, vessel strikes, or infectious disease.

“We are well aware of social media campaigns which attribute these mortalities to offshore wind development, but, at least in our response area, there are no wind surveys or construction activities taking place.” said Regina Asmutis-Silvia, WDC’s Executive Director. “Our goal is to use the outcomes of these cases to help save other whales. It is beyond frustrating to have the integrity of our team challenged if our findings don’t coincide with someone’s political agenda.”

In recent years, there has been a notable increase of forage fish closer to the coast of Massachusetts, which has brought whales nearer to shoreline where the chances of finding animals who were entangled, struck, or sick, has risen. The insulating blubber of whales results in the internal organs of carcasses decomposing quickly, often rending it difficult to identify a cause of death as is the case with the recent stranding. Samples were obtained for genetic and histopathology analysis, but it typically takes weeks to months to obtain these results, according to Whale and Dolphin Conservation.

Photographs of this young female whale were submitted to the Center for Coastal Studies and Allied Whale to determine if this young whale is a known whale to the area. In addition, citizens of the Wampanoag tribe were contacted to alert them of the loss of this whale.

Consider donating to help the MARR team during these busy times. Donate today: https://bit.ly/helpthewhales