Massive dead whale washes into Jersey Shore surf and begins breaking apart

Suspected female fin whale is now near Barnegat Light after being spotted off Long Beach Island

BARNEGAT LIGHT, NJ – A massive dead whale that spent Sunday drifting off Long Beach Island has moved into the surf near Barnegat Light, where its heavily decomposed carcass is beginning to break apart while marine mammal experts coordinate plans for its recovery, examination and disposal.

The Marine Mammal Stranding Center said the whale, suspected to be a female fin whale, was first reported by a boater at approximately 10:20 a.m. Sunday about 1.5 miles off Long Beach Is...