An endangered, pregnant fin whale arrived in Seward dead on a cruise ship bow

An endangered, pregnant fin whale arrived dead on the bow of a cruise ship that docked in Seward on Friday, according to NOAA Fisheries. In an initial investigation, the 61-foot adult whale was found to be pregnant, and fin whales are listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. NOAA said vessel strikes are a major threat, and the only scheduled cruise ship in Seward Friday was Royal Caribbean Group’s Ovation of the Seas, a 14-deck vessel that can carry more than 4,000 passengers. NOAA Fisheries Office of Law Enforcement is investigating and is working with the Alaska SeaLife Center to conduct a necropsy and collect samples, while the public is asked to stay off the beach near the site. The article also notes fin whales weigh between 40 and 80 tons, can reach 85 feet in length, and live up to 90 years.