Meeting set to discuss the November stranding of a humpback whale
A humpback whale is shown stranded on this sandbar in Harts Cove in East Moriches on Monday, Nov. 21, 2016. The whale was euthanized three days later. Credit: Randee Daddona
A meeting will be held next month to discuss the November stranding of a humpback whale in Moriches Bay and plans for a new collaboration between agencies responding to strandings in the region, officials announced.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries staff are expected to present an analysis of the stranding of a 29.5-foot-long juvenile humpback whale in Moriches Bay, according to a news release from NOAA. The whale was first spotted Nov. 20 and was euthanized four days later after attempts to dislodge the animal from a sandbar were unsuccessful.
NOAA officials also will discuss “lessons learned by the agency and its partners,” as well as plans for a “new collaboration to respond to marine mammal strandings on Long Island,” according to the release.
The meeting will be held Feb. 7 from 4 to 6 p.m. at Brookhaven Town Hall in Farmingville and is open to the public.
— RACHEL UDA
