Seaside Aquarium to Perform Necropsy on Fin Whale Washed Ashore at Sunset Beach, Plea to Public to Keep Distance

The Seaside Aquarium posted a plea om social media this afternoon, Monday February 12, 2024 – Please help us protect the Fin whale that stranded dead at Sunset Beach State Park in Oregon earlier today. Leave the carcass undisturbed and urge others to do the same. Fin whales are the second largest whale in the world, after Blue whales, and they are protected by law. Our best chance of learning what happened to this endangered species is to examine the carcass, but any disturbance or interaction with the carcass compromises that opportunity. Our necropsy team will be on scene tomorrow and we will share our findings. Please help us until then by staying away from the carcass and keeping your pets and children at a safe distance. We recommend at least 100 yards from this and all other stranded marine mammals.
Photo by Seaside Aquarium, MMHSRP #24359.
For more information visit https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/west-coast/marine-mammal-protection/west-coast-marine-mammal-stranding-network