Meeting set to discuss the November stranding of a humpback whale

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