Sperm Whale in Deerfield Beach

[Reck Diver]

I just received a call about a 40' sperm whale that washed up dead at the Deerfield Pier. It was seen around Pompano yesterday and some people were swimming with it, so it was probable near death then.

If you want to see it, go quick, it probably won't be there long. I'm on my way now.

 

[HowardE]

Its sad to see.

Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using Tapatalk 2

 

[scallop]

Wow. Sad to see indeed. We are going to be staying at the Embassy Suites Dec 23-26, probably would have put a kink on the wife's beach going!

 

[HowardE]

[inline="left"]http://cbsmiami.files.wordpress.com/2012/12/dead-sperm-whale.jpg?w=300[/inline]POMPANO BEACH (CBSMiami) – The carcass of a 40-foot female sperm whale was found early Monday near the International Fishing Pier in Deerfield Beach.
A Broward Sheriff’s Office statement said beachgoers spotted the whale Sunday morning off Pompano Beach about 40 feet from shore. Tides kept washing the whale close to shore as rip currents pulled it back out.
Blair Mase from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration told CBS4 News that NOAA has taken some specimens from the whale to study and try to determine how it died. NOAA wanted to pull the carcass on to the shore in order to perform a necropsy but the city didn’t want them to. Instead, SeaTwo will pull the carcass out to sea.
Meanwhile, authorities are planning an investigation into the whale’s death after a swimmer was seen straddling the animal.
NBCNews.com reports that NOAA plans to look into a report from resident of Pompano Beach, Margie Casey, who said she saw the whale alive earlier in the day and saw one of two swimmers get on top of the whale.
It’s illegal to harass a marine mammal and if someone did get on top of the whale, it could have caused further stress and contributed to its death, according to Mase.
A marine biologist monitoring the whale’s progress noted that it had scarring, which may have come from it being hit by a boat.
Sperm whales are the largest of the toothed whales and an endangered species

 

[Reck Diver]

The City of Deerfield refused to allow a necropsy on the beach (thank god). NOAA (who wanted to further examine the animal) could have moved the speciman to a spot 20 miles from the beach and disected away, however according to NOAA Southeast region stranding coordinator Blair Mase, they decided against spending limited resources.

So How is it NOAA has money for Party Boats, and other junkets, but can't find money for science in their budget?

 

[Tom Winters]

So where 20 miles from the Deerfield Pier would the necropsy have taken place? Boynton Beach? Any part of coastal Broward county? 20 miles inland to Parkland?
Deerfield Beach missed a great marketing opportunity - come have lunch at the Whale's Rib and then go see some whale's ribs.
If this was closer to New Year's, the city of Deerfield Beach could have combined the New Year's Eve fireworks show with the simultaneous disposal of the whale as the grand finale.
Would have made for one viral Youtube.
When there was a dead whale off SSE of Maui a few years ago, the tiger and Galapagos sharks had to stand off until the normally absent great whites had their fill. That holding pattern would have been kinda cool to see.

 

[Scott L]

If this was closer to New Year's, the city of Deerfield Beach could have combined the New Year's Eve fireworks show with the simultaneous disposal of the whale as the grand finale.
Would have made for one viral Youtube.
When there was a dead whale off SSE of Maui a few years ago, the tiger and Galapagos sharks had to stand off until the normally absent great whites had their fill. That holding pattern would have been kinda cool to see.

Would have been a whale of a show...

 

[Reck Diver]

So where 20 miles from the Deerfield Pier would the necropsy have taken place? Boynton Beach? Any part of coastal Broward county? 20 miles inland to Parkland?
Deerfield Beach missed a great marketing opportunity - come have lunch at the Whale's Rib and then go see some whale's ribs.
If this was closer to New Year's, the city of Deerfield Beach could have combined the New Year's Eve fireworks show with the simultaneous disposal of the whale as the grand finale.
Would have made for one viral Youtube.
When there was a dead whale off SSE of Maui a few years ago, the tiger and Galapagos sharks had to stand off until the normally absent great whites had their fill. That holding pattern would have been kinda cool to see.

They mayor said spot she suggested was 20 miles from the beach so not near any coastal locations. I guessing she was suggesting the dump west of Powerline Road where the carcass could have been examined and buried.

The whale was towed 5 miles out by Sea Tow, and I'm thinking we should hear some reports about the feeding activities before to long.

 

[Scott L]

They mayor said spot she suggested was 20 miles from the beach so not near any coastal locations. I guessing she was suggesting the dump west of Powerline Road where the carcass could have been examined and buried.

The whale was towed 5 miles out by Sea Tow, and I'm thinking we should hear some reports about the feeding activities before to long.

5 miles out to sea? It will probably wash up on Jupiter's beaches tomorrow.

 

[HowardE]

Gulf Stream as of Dec 17, 2012 at 1200 UTC... 2 nautical miles southeast of Fowey Rocks. 4 nautical miles east northeast of Port Everglades. 3 nautical miles east of Lake Worth. 5 nautical miles east northeast of Jupiter Inlet. This data courtesy of the naval oceanographic office