'Gruesome' blob of flesh found floating in ocean sparks alarm

Another North Atlantic right whale has been discovered dead by a surveillance plane.

Michael Dahlstrom
·Environment Editor
Updated ·2-min read
A surveillance plane has captured vision of a rotting whale carcass of Nova Scotia.
The rotting carcass of a North Atlantic right whale has been discovered off the coast of Canada. Source: Transport Canada

A decaying blob of flesh has been photographed floating 140 kilometres from shore in the North Atlantic, sparking concern from marine mammal experts.

Only the lower half of the creature remains, and experts are hoping to gather genetic information to better understand what killed the rare and endangered North Atlantic right whale. Because the whale is so heavily decomposed, the cause of death cannot be determined, however ship strikes caused by speeding vessels as well as fishing gear entanglement are major causes of the species’ demise.

Prior to the discovery of the carcass on May 12, at least five other deaths have been documented this year. There are only 356 individuals remaining, and of them only 70 are breeding females.

Marine Animal Response Society reported the discovery of the dead whale on Wednesday (local time). They became aware of it after a Transport Canada aerial surveillance plane snapped vision of it off the southwest coast of Nova Scotia.

Related: 10 per cent of critically endangered whales enter deadly shipping lane

A North Atlantic right whale entangled in ropes and plastic.
Entanglement is a major threat to North Atlantic right whales. Source: Nick Hawkins via IFAW

Responding to the whale’s death, Oceana Canada’s Kim Elmslie said the Northern Hemisphere winter had been “especially hard” on North Atlantic Right Whales. “The gruesome discovery of this latest North Atlantic right whale is another devastating loss to the species,” she said.

The charity’s United States campaigner warned with North Atlantic right whale deaths stacking up this year, extinction is getting closer. He called on the country’s President Joe Biden to reduce vessel speed limits and enact stronger measures to reduce shipping rope and line entanglements.

“Each death is a devastating blow to their recovery. The US and Canadian governments must act now to save North Atlantic right whales from extinction, while they still have the chance. Continued delays result in more whale deaths like this one and the potential extinction of an entire species,” he said.

Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? Get our new newsletter showcasing the week’s best stories.

  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next

Latest stories

  • Major rain warning as mercury plunges

    Multiple states are set to be lashed with falls of up to 60mm in the midst of a freezing weekend for thousands of Aussies.

  • Green hydrogen: is this Australia's breakout moment amid US$127 billion boom down under?

    On a site three times the size of Hong Kong, a US$10 billion project mooted in Australia has raised hopes of tackling greenhouse gas emissions with green hydrogen. Located 400km north of Alice Springs in central Australia, phase one of the proposed Green Springs project, targeted for completion by 2030, will feature 10 gigawatts (GW) of solar panels, enough to meet the requirements of more than 3 million households. If the project, spread over 200 square kilometres, gets the go ahead and is succ

  • Hunter mistakenly kills grizzly bear, but it wasn’t hunter’s mistake

    After an investigation that left the Idaho Fish and Game in an embarrassing position, the hunter was not issued a citation.

  • Batteries causing thousands of fires a year

    Lithium-ion batteries are causing thousands of fires a year causing extensive damage to waste facilities, trucks and homes across Australia.

  • China's first industrial nuclear-powered steam generation project goes online

    China's first nuclear-powered steam generation project for industrial use has begun production, as Beijing accelerates its diversification of nuclear energy and promotes a low-carbon transformation of energy. The project, named Heqi No 1, officially went into operation on Wednesday, according to its constructor, the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC), a state-owned enterprise with a complete nuclear technology industry framework. Through a 23.3km (14.5 miles) above-ground pipeline, CNNC s

  • Incredible footage reignites 'black panther' theory after sighting on Aussie property

    Aussies have debated over the existence of black panthers for some time with the recent footage proof to some that they exist. What do you think?

  • Stop Buying These 10 Unnecessary Groceries To Save Over $5,000 This Year

    With the cost of everything increasing due to stubborn inflation figures, finding cheaper alternatives for necessities like groceries is more important than ever. This is why we will look at groceries...

  • Dog owners warned after toxic plants found in park

    The council says it is working to restrict access to areas where the plants have been found.

  • Chimpanzees seen self-medicating with healing plants when sick or injured

    The chimpanzee was sick. It had diarrhea and tapeworms - not unusual for a wild chimpanzee in the Budongo Forest of Uganda. What intrigued the watching research team was what the ape did about it. Soon after its symptoms developed, the male traveled with two others away from the community’s home to a site in the forest with a particular type of tree. It collected some dead wood from the Alstonia boonei and chewed it. The plant has long been used in traditional medicine, and when the scientists t

  • Beneath offshore wind turbines, researchers grow seafood and seaweed

    In a small boat bobbing in the waves between towering offshore wind turbines, researchers in Europe’s Baltic Sea reach into the frigid water and remove long lines stretched between the pylons onto which mussels and seaweed are growing. It’s part of efforts to explore multiple uses for remote wind parks far out at sea, such as fresh seafood production.

  • Bill Gates wants to 'fix the cows' — here's the startup he backed to help fight climate change

    The solution looks promising.

  • ‘My body can’t take it’: Brutal nighttime temperatures give Delhi residents little respite from India’s searing heatwave

    Nights are getting uncomfortably and dangerously hotter in India’s capital as people in the world’s most populous nation feel little respite from unrelenting temperatures.

  • What are electrolysers? How is hydrogen produced and how do fuel cells use the energy?

    Electrolysers and fuel cell systems are the key equipment for the production and use of hydrogen. More than 95 per cent of hydrogen is currently made using fossil fuels, mainly coal and natural gas, because of their low costs. However, governments' climate policies and incentives will make the production of green hydrogen, which uses renewable energy, economically viable, presenting big business opportunities. Here is what you need to know about electrolysers and fuel cell systems. Do you have q

  • How Irwin family transformed after Steve

    The Irwin family have remained Aussie icons in the decades since Steve’s death. They continue to build on his legendary reputation and keep his legacy alive.

  • Man killed in suspected bear attack in Japan

    Yasuhiro Kobayashi, 58, was found by a colleague on Friday afternoon.

  • Major power outage hits Balkan countries as region swelters in heatwave

    Southeastern Europe has been slammed by a seasonally early heatwave coupled with rampant power outages. Both are leaving Balkan countries at a standstill.

  • A major power outage hits Balkan region as countries swelter in an early summer heat wave

    A major hourslong power outage hit much of the Balkans on Friday as the southern European region sweltered in an early heat wave that sent temperatures soaring to more than 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit). Montenegrin authorities said that an outage that lasted for several hours in the country's power distribution system left almost the entire nation without electricity, while similar problems were reported in the coastal part of Croatia, and in Bosnia and Albania.

  • Relentless deadly rains lash southern China as flooding threatens millions

    Tens of thousands of people across southern China have been evacuated, with many more potentially at risk, as deadly torrential rains continue to lash the region, causing flash flooding and mudslides.

  • Historic flooding in southern China kills 47

    Southern China is bracing for more flooding after downpours caused historic flooding and landslides that have killed at least 47 people.

  • US offers $850 million in grants to clean up oil sector methane emissions

    The U.S. government opened up on Friday competitive bidding that will close on Aug. 26 for $850 million in grants to help small oil and gas producers monitor and reduce methane from their operations, a major part of the Biden administration's plan to crack down on leaks of the potent greenhouse gas. The funding, made available through the administration's signature climate law called the Inflation Reduction Act, will specifically help small oil and natural gas operators reduce methane emissions and gain access to methane detection and reduction technologies. Some smaller, independent U.S. oil and gas operators had strongly opposed the Environmental Protection Agency's new methane standards that target hundreds of thousands of existing sources nationwide because they would place a financial burden on low-producing wells, as well as the agency's proposed methane fee on producers.