A boat collided with a minke whale along the Barnegat Bay in Ocean County, New Jersey, on Saturday, fatally injuring the animal and throwing one passenger overboard. Video circulating on social media shows the vessel rocking sharply after the impact, moments before a passenger is thrown overboard. The 20-foot whale appeared to swim away briefly before succumbing to its injuries.Officials from the Marine Mammal Stranding Center (MMSC) said they were alerted by the New Jersey state police Marine Unit around 2.45 pm (local time) on Saturday after a whale was spotted in Barnegat Bay near the inlet.MMSC staff coordinated with the US Coast Guard, the NJSP Marine Unit, and Sea Tow, while a stranding coordinator was dispatched to the scene, reports CBS News.Authorities received a report from a boater less than an hour later that a vessel struck the whale, nearly causing it to capsize, and threw a passenger into the water. The individual who went overboard was believed to be unharmed, as per officials, reports CBS News. Sea Tow, which remained at the scene to monitor the whale, later confirmed that the animal had died.The whale was located resting at a “very shallow” sandbar just outside the channel by the MMSC stranding coordinator and New Jersey Fish and Wildlife Conservation officers. Officials said plans are in place to tow the whale to a nearby New Jersey state park for a necropsy. However, due to limited access to heavy equipment and tidal timing, the whale will remain in place until Monday morning, when conditions are expected to allow for removal with assistance from Sea Tow. The video of the incident, which is now gaining significant traction on social media, has garnered sympathy for the deceased whale.“Oh, that poor whale. I hate that this happened,” commented a user. “Oh my gosh, this is just heartbreaking! Poor whale, and that passenger must have been terrified. It’s such a tragedy that these kinds of accidents keep happening. We really need to do more to protect our marine life and ensure everyone’s safety out there. Maybe stricter regulations on boat speeds in whale areas would help? It’s just so sad to see nature suffer like this,” said another user.“So sad for the whale. I wonder what distresssed it?” commented another. The MMSC has advised boaters to exercise caution in the area north of Double Creek Channel in Barnegat Bay and to maintain a minimum distance of 150 feet from the whale carcass for safety reasons.
