A 40-foot adult humpback whale washed ashore at Ditch Plains in Montauk early Friday morning, turning a prime surf spot into an impromptu stranding scene. The whale settled in the rocky surf at about 6:30 a.m., severely decomposed after a fisherman reported seeing it floating several miles offshore late Thursday.
Responders On Scene
According to ABC7 New York, the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society was alerted after the offshore sighting and joined town and state officials at Ditch Plains to assess how responders could safely reach the whale. ABC7’s report credits photos to 27east.com and photographer Jack Motz that show the massive carcass stranded on the sand.
Who Will Handle The Carcass
The Atlantic Marine Conservation Society, which leads New York State’s large-whale response, says its teams will first determine how much access they have to the animal and whether a full necropsy is realistic given the advanced state of decomposition. AMSEAS crews have previously conducted necropsies, secured carcasses with GPS trackers, or coordinated burial and removal operations, depending on the whale’s condition and overall safety at the site.
Why It Matters
Federal scientists report that humpback strandings along the Atlantic coast have remained elevated since 2016 and are being investigated as an Unusual Mortality Event. Roughly half of the whales examined in recent years have shown signs of human interaction such as vessel strikes or entanglement. That history means responders aim to collect samples and documentation whenever they can, although heavy decomposition can severely limit what laboratories are able to determine, according to NOAA Fisheries.
Safety And Reporting
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is reminding beachgoers that a dead whale is a hazardous scene, not a photo op. The agency urges the public to keep a safe distance from beached marine mammals, not to touch or attempt to move them, and to report any sightings to the state stranding hotline at 631-369-9829. DEC staff and partner agencies will coordinate with AMSEAS to determine whether samples can be taken or if the carcass must be buried or otherwise disposed of for public health and beach safety.
Local Trend
This latest discovery adds to a string of large-whale strandings along the New York and Long Island coast this spring. Earlier in the season, a roughly 40-foot whale washed up on Rockaway Beach in March, where AMSEAS again handled response efforts. News 12 New York reported on that Rockaway incident and the coordinated work to manage the carcass.
What Happens Next
Responders say it could take several days to secure the Montauk whale, collect any usable samples, and decide whether the carcass will be towed, buried, or removed. If decomposition prevents a full necropsy, investigators will fall back on photos, drift data, and whatever tissue remains to support ongoing Unusual Mortality Event tracking. AMSEAS says its teams will coordinate closely with NOAA Fisheries and the DEC as they map out next steps and is asking the public to steer clear of the area while crews work.
