Dead Fin Whale Found on New Jersey Ship Raises Alarms Over Maritime Safety and Environmental Enforcement

When a massive fin whale—a protected endangered species—was found dead on the bow of a container ship docked at Gloucester Marine Terminal in New Jersey, it was more than a tragic loss of wildlife; it was a glaring symptom of systemic failures. How could one of the ocean’s largest and most vulnerable mammals end up lifeless against an industrial vessel navigating U.S. waters? Are Current Maritime Regulations Enough to Protect America’s Coastal Wildlife? The Marine Mammal Stranding Center and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) have launched investigations into this disturbing incident. Yet, questions remain about whether federal protections...