Whale that collided with a boat at the Jersey Shore was in poor health, officials say

NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement has opened an investigation into what appeared to be an emaciated minke whale that died during the weekend after colliding with a boat in Barnegat Bay.

The 26-foot female whale died Saturday a short time after videos showed it colliding with a boat, nearly capsizing the vessel and throwing a person overboard.

Andrea Gomez, a spokesperson for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, said in an email on Monday that the incident is under investigation.

“Our Office of Law Enforcement has opened an investigation and It is long standing NOAA practice not to comment on open investigations,” the spokesperson said.

Under the Marine Mammal Protection Act and potentially the Endangered Species Act, it is illegal to kill whales and other marine mammal