Dead fin whale washes ashore in N.J.

NEWARK, N.J., Aug. 31 (UPI) -- Marine officials say a 55-foot fin whale has washed ashore in New Jersey after apparently being dead for more than a week.

Marine Mammal Stranding Center Director Robert Schoelkopf said Saturday's discovery of the large mammal at Island Beach State Park in Ocean County was likely the result of the animal's death while at sea, The (Newark, N.J.) Star-Ledger reported.

The animal was spotted more than a week ago drifting off the coast by the U.S. Coast Guard, but no official cause of its death had been determined.

Schoilkopf said the whale had been trapped in fishing gear and had numerous bite marks on its body that have been initially attributed to sharks.

Workers for the marine center planned to remove the animal from the beach sometime Sunday, the Star-Ledger said.

Schoelkopf told the newspaper the whale's appearance comes as a live harbor seal was spotted in the area, along with the discovery of a dead sea turtle in Ocean City, N.J.