At approximately 5 a.m. Monday, Aug. 24, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), as part of the West Coast Marine Mammal Stranding Network, received a report of a deceased whale found on the bow of a vessel coming into the Port of Tacoma. WDFW, NOAA Fisheries, and the Port of Tacoma coordinated on Monday to secure the whale’s remains to protect the safety of Port operations. On Tuesday, Aug. 25, responders relocated the remains to a necropsy site on nearby McNeil Island.
WDFW and Cascadia Research Collective conducted a necropsy on the whale Wednesday, Aug. 26. Experts identified the animal as a 67-foot-long adult female fin whale. Based on the necropsy findings, responders believe the whale was alive when struck by the vessel.
Fin whales are federally endangered under the U.S. Endangered Species Act and listed as state endangered in Washington. NOAA Fisheries will continue to gather information about this vessel strike, and experts will review the necropsy findings for further insight on how to reduce future risks to whales. Ship strikes have emerged as an increasing cause of death of large whales as both ship volume and speed has increased.
The whale’s remains will remain at the necropsy site to naturally decompose.
WDFW appreciates the coordination between our West Coast Marine Mammal Stranding Network partners and the Port of Tacoma during this response.
While the federal government, including NOAA Fisheries and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, maintains management authority for marine mammals in the United States, WDFW helps manage the populations that live in or migrate through Washington.
The Port of Tacoma falls under WDFW’s response area as part of the West Coast Marine Mammal Stranding Network – an organization of highly trained cooperating entities that respond to marine mammal stranding events along the Washington, Oregon, and California coasts as part of a nationwide network. A marine mammal “stranding” refers to stuck, injured, ill, or deceased marine mammals.
If the public encounters a stranded marine mammal in Washington, they should keep their distance and not interfere with the animal. Report marine mammal standings immediately to the proper authorities by calling the West Coast Marine Mammal Stranding Network at 1–866–767–6114.
