2016-2017 Humpback Whale Unusual Mortality Event along the Atlantic Coast
Source: NOAA Fisheries
2016-2017 Humpback Whale Unusual Mortality Event along the Atlantic Coast
Since January 2016, elevated humpback whale mortalities have occurred along the Atlantic coast from Maine through North Carolina. A table of stranding numbers by state is below.
This event has been declared an Unusual Mortality Event (UME).
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Partial or full necropsy examinations were conducted on approximately half of the whales. Of the 20 whales examined, 10 had evidence of blunt force trauma or pre-mortem propeller wounds indicative of vessel strike.
Report a stranded or floating whale
The most important step members of the public can take to assist investigators is to immediately report any sightings of live whales in distress or stranded, or dead whales. Make the report by calling the Greater Atlantic Marine Mammal Stranding Hotline at 866-755-6622, the Southeast Marine Mammal Stranding Hotline at 877-433-8299 or contact the U.S. Coast Guard on VHF Channel 16. Again, do not approach or touch the whale.
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Read more: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/health/mmume/2017humpbackatlanticume.html
