Massive 40-Foot Whale Carcass Washes Up on NYC Beach

The endangered Sei whale was found on Rockaway Beach in Queens, sparking a response from conservation authorities.

Mar. 27, 2026 at 3:48am

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A massive 40-foot-long Sei whale carcass washed up on Rockaway Beach in Queens, New York on Thursday morning. The whale was first spotted floating offshore 15 miles south of Long Island the previous day. Authorities from the NYC Department of Parks & Recreation, the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, and NOAA Fisheries New England/Mid-Atlantic are working with the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society to secure and monitor the large marine mammal, and plan to conduct an autopsy on Friday.

Why it matters

Sei whales are classified as an endangered species due to population declines from commercial whaling in the 19th and 20th centuries. The New York Bight area has seen an increase in whale fatalities in recent years, raising concerns about threats to marine life in the region.

The details

The 40-foot-long Sei whale was discovered stranded on Rockaway Beach near Beach 95th Street on Thursday morning, after an aerial survey team first spotted it floating offshore the previous day. Authorities are working to document the whale and perform an autopsy to determine the cause of death.

  • The whale was first spotted floating offshore 15 miles south of Long Island on Wednesday.
  • The whale carcass was discovered on Rockaway Beach in Queens on Thursday morning.

The players

Atlantic Marine Conservation Society

A conservation organization working with authorities to secure and monitor the whale carcass.

NYC Department of Parks & Recreation

A government agency assisting in the response to the whale carcass.

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

A government agency assisting in the response to the whale carcass.

NOAA Fisheries New England/Mid-Atlantic

A federal agency assisting in the response to the whale carcass.

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What’s next

The team will coordinate plans to document the whale and conduct an autopsy on Friday.

The takeaway

The discovery of this endangered Sei whale carcass on a New York City beach highlights the ongoing threats to marine life in the region and the importance of conservation efforts to protect vulnerable whale populations.