Minke Whale Dies After Barnegat Bay Boat Collision

A 20-foot minke whale died in Barnegat Bay, New Jersey, after a violent boat collision on Saturday afternoon that nearly capsized the vessel and threw a passenger overboard, though she was unharmed. The incident was captured on video, and the whale, already in distress earlier that day, was struck around 3:40 p.m. Rescue crews, including the Marine Mammal Stranding Center, U.S. Coast Guard, and state officials, were unable to reach the whale immediately due to tidal conditions. The whale’s carcass was found later on a sandbar, and a necropsy is scheduled for Monday pending proper equipment and tides. Authorities have warned boaters to stay at least 150 feet from the carcass and exercise caution in the area. The event follows a recent rise in whale strandings in New Jersey since late 2022, prompting officials to urge boaters to be vigilant and report sightings.