Fin Whale Carcass Spoils Bow of Seward Cruise Ship

A 61-foot pregnant female fin whale carcass was found on the bow of a cruise ship that arrived in Seward, Alaska. NOAA Fisheries, in coordination with the Alaska SeaLife Center, will conduct a necropsy to determine the cause of death, and the public is asked to stay clear of the beach during examinations. Fin whales are endangered and vulnerable to vessel strikes; collecting whale tissue is illegal except for Alaska Native subsistence. NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement is investigating, with a 24-hour hotline (800-853-1964) for information.